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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


The  Blue  and  the  Gray  Series 


TAKEN    BY   THE    ENEMY 
WITHIN    THE    ENEMY'S    LINES 
ON    THE    BLOCKADE 
STAND   BY  THE  UNION    (In  Press) 

Lee  and  Shepard  Publishers  Boston 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/onblockade01opti 


MULGRUM    AXD  THE    EXGINEER. 


BY  OLIVER  OPTIC 

01  TIE  BLOCKADE 


The  Blue  and  the  Gray  Series 


ON    THE    BLOCKADE 


OLIVER    OPTIC 


AUTHOR  OF  "  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  SERIES  "  "  YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD  "  "  THE 

GREAT  WESTERN   SERIES"  "  THE   WOODVILLE   STORIES''  "THE  STARRY 

FLAG    SERIES"     "  THE     BOAT-CLUB    STORIES  "    "  THE    ONWARD 

AND    UPWARD    SERIES"      "  THE   YACHT-CLUB    SERIES" 

"  THE  LAKE  SHORE  SERIES  "    "  THE  RIVERDALB 

STORIES"  "THE  BOAT-BUILDER   SERIES" 

"TAKEN       BY       THE       ENEMY" 

"WITHIN  THE  ENEMY'S 

LINES  "    ETC. 


BOSTON     1891 
LEE    AND     SHEPARD     PUBLISHERS 

10  MILK  STREET  NEXT  "  THE  OLD  SOUTH  MEETING  HOUSE" 

NEW  YORK  CHARLES  T.  DILLINGHAM 

7lS  AND   730  BROADWAY 


Copyright,  iSgo,  by  Lee  and  Shefard. 


A 11  rights  reserved. 


On  the  Blockade. 


TO  MY  SON-IN-LAW, 

SOL     SMITH     RUSSELL, 

of  the  united  states  of  america, 

though  residing  in  minneapolis,  minnesota, 

who  is  always 

'On  the  Blockade"  against  Melancholy,  "The  Blues,' 

and  all  similar  maladies, 

STijis  Folutne 

IS   AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


602666 


PREFACE 


"  On  the  Blockade  "  is  the  third  of  "  The  Blue 
and  the  Gray  Series."  Like  the  first  and  second 
volumes,  its  incidents  are  dated  back  to  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion,  and  located  in  the  midst  of  its 
most  stirring  scenes  on  the  Southern  coast,  where 
the  naval  operations  of  the  United  States  contrib- 
uted their  full  share  to  the  final  result. 

The  writer  begs  to  remind  his  readers  again 
that  he  has  not  felt  called  upon  to  invest  his 
story  with  the  dignity  of  history,  or  in  all  cases 
to  mingle  fiction  with  actual  historic  occurrences. 
He  believes  that  all  the  scenes  of  the  story  are 
not  only  possible,  but  probable,  and  that  just  such 
events  as  he  has  narrated  really  and  frequently 
occurred  in  the  days  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  historian  is  forbidden  to  make  his  work  more 
palatable  or  more  interesting  by  the  intermixture 
of  fiction  with  fact,  while  the  story-writer,  though 
required  to  be  reasonably  consistent  with  the  spirit 


8  PREFACE 

and  the  truth  of  history,  may  wander  from  veritable 
details,  and  use  his  imagination  in  the  creation  of 
incidents  upon  which  the  grand  result  is  reached. 
It  would  not  be  allowable  to  make  the  Rebellion 
a  success,  if  the  writer  so  desired,  even  on  the 
pages  of  romance ;  and  it  would  not  be  fair  or 
just  to  ignore  the  bravery,  the  self-sacrifice,  and 
the  heroic  endurance  of  the  Southern  people  in  a 
cause  they  believed  to  be  holy  and  patriotic,  as 
almost  universally  admitted  at  the  present  time, 
any  more  than  it  would  be  to  lose  sight  of  the 
magnificent  spirit,  the  heroism,  the  courage,  and 
the  persistence,  of  the  Northern  people  in  accom- 
plishing what  they  believed  then,  and  still  believe, 
was  a  holy  and  patriotic  duty  in  the  preservation 
of  the  Union. 

Incidents  not  inconsistent  with  the  final  result, 
or  with  the  spirit  of  the  people  on  either  side  in 
the  great  conflict  are  of  comparatively  little  con- 
sequence. That  General  Lee  or  General  Grant 
turned  this  or  that  corner  in  reaching  Appomat- 
tox may  be  important,  but  the  grand  historical 
tableau  is  the  Christian  hero,  noble  in  the  midst 
of  defeat,  disaster,  and  ruin,  formally  rendering 
his  sword  to  the  impassible  but  magnanimous  con- 


PREFACE  9 

queror  as  the  crowning  event  of  a  long  and 
bloody  war.  The  details  are  historically  impor- 
tant, though  overshadowed  by  the  mighty  result 
of  the  great  conflict. 

Many  of  the  personages  of  the  preceding  vol- 
umes have  been  introduced  in  the  present  one, 
and  the  central  figure  remains  the  same.  The 
writer  is  willing  to  admit  that  his  hero  is  an 
ideal  character,  though  his  lofty  tone  and  patri- 
otic spirit  were  fully  paralleled  by  veritable  indi- 
viduals during  the  war ;  and  he  is  not  prepared 
to  apologize  for  the  abundant  success  which  at- 
tended the  career  of  Christy  Passford.  Those 
who  really  struggled  as  earnestly  and  faithfully 
deserved  his  good  fortune,  though  they  did  not 
always  obtain  it. 

Dokchestee,  Mass.,  April  24,  1890. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   I.  page 

The  United  States  Steamek  Bronx  ....      15 

CHAPTER   II. 
A  Dinner  for  the  Confederacy        ....      26 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Intruder  at  the  Cabin  Door     ....      37 

CHAPTER  IV. 
A  Deaf  and  Dumb  Mystery         .....      48 

CHAPTER  V. 
A  Confidential  Steward      ......      59 

CHAPTER  VI. 
A  Mission  up  the  Foremast 70 

CHAPTER  VII. 
An  Interview  on  the  Bridge 81 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Important  Information,  if  True     .  .        .        .        .92 


12  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   IX.  page 

A  Volunteer  Captain's  Clerk 103 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  Unexpected  Orders 114 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Another  Reading  of  the  Sealed  Orders       .        .     125 

CHAPTER  XII. 
A  Sail  on  the  Starboard  Bow 136 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Steamer  in  the  Fog 147 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Confederate  Steamer  Scotian  ....    158 

CHAPTER  XV. 
The  Sootian  becomes  the  Ocklockonee   .        .        .    169 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Captain  Passford's  Final  Orders     .       .       .       .180 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
A  Couple  of  Astonished  Conspirators    .        .        .    191 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
A  Triangular  Action  with  Great  Guns  ...    202 


CONTENTS  13 

CHAPTER  XIX.  page 

Om  the  Deck  of  the  Arran 213 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Tub  New  Commander  of  the  Bronx  ....    224 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
An  Expedition  in  the  Gulf 235 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
A  Night  Expedition  in  the  Boats      ....    246 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
The  Visit  to  a  Shore  Battery 257 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 
Captain  Loni.ey  of  the  Steamer  Havana      .        .    268 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
The  New  Engineer  of  the  Prize  Steamer      .        .    279 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 
The  Battle  with  the  Soldiers 290 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 
The  Innocent  Captain  of  the  Garrison         .        .    301 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
The  Bearer  of  Despatches 312 


14  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  XXIX.  page 

The  New  Commanded  of  the  Vixen  ....    323 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  Action  with  a  Peivateer  Steamer  .        .        .    334 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
A  Short  Visit  to  Bonnydale 345 


*p 


_ 

ON    THE    BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   I 

THE   UNITED   STATES    STEAMER   BRONX 

"She  is  a  fine  little  steamer,  father,  without  the 
possibility  of  a  doubt,"  said  Lieutenant  Passford, 
who  was  seated  at  the  table  with  his  father  in  the 
captain's  cabin  on  board  of  the  Bronx.  "  I  don't 
feel  quite  at  home  here,  and  I  don't  quite  like  the 
idea  of  being  taken  out  of  the  Bellevite." 

"  You  are  not  going  to  sea  for  the  fun  of  it,  my 
son,"  replied  Captain  Passford.  "You  are  not 
setting  out  on  a  yachting  excursion,  but  on  the 
most  serious  business  in  the  world." 

"I  know  and  feel  all  that,  father,  but  I  have 
spent  so  many  pleasant  days,  hours,  weeks,  and 
months  on  board  of  the  Bellevite,  that  I  am  very 
sorry  to  leave  her,"  added  Christy  Passford,  who 
had  put  on  his  new  uniform,  which  was  that  of 


16  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

master  in  the  United  States  Navy ;  and  he  was  as 
becoming  to  the  uniform  as  the  uniform  was  to 
him. 

"  You  cannot  well  help  having  some  regrets  at 
leaving  the  Bellevite ;  but  you  must  remember  that 
your  life  on  board  of  her  was  mostly  in  the  capac- 
ity of  a  pleasure-seeker,  though  you  made  a  good 
use  of  your  time  and  of  your  opportunities  for 
improvement;  and  that  is  the  reason  why  you 
have  made  such  remarkable  progress  in  your 
present  profession." 

"  I  shall  miss  my  friends  on  board  of  the  Belle- 
vite. I  have  sailed  with  all  her  officers,  and  Paul 
Vapoor  and  I  have  been  cronies  for  years,"  con- 
tinued Christy,  with  a  shade  of  gloom  on  his  bright 
face. 

"  You  will  probably  see  them  occasionally,  and 
if  your  life  is  spared  you  may  again  find  yourself 
an  officer  of  the  Bellevite.  But  I  think  you  have 
no  occasion  to  indulge  in  any  regrets,"  said  Cap- 
tain Passford,  imparting  a  cheerful  expression  to 
his  dignified  countenance.  "  Allow  me  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  you  are  the  commander 
of  this  fine  little  steamer.  Here  you  are  in  your 
own  cabin,  and  you  are  still  nothing  but  a  boy, 
hardly  eighteen  years  old." 


THE    UNITED   STATES    STEAMER   BRONX        IT 

"If  I  have  not  earned  my  rank,  it  is  not  my 
fault  that  I  have  it,"  answered  Christy,  hardly 
knowing  whether  to  be  glad  or  sorry  for  his  rapid 
advancement.  "  I  have  never  asked  for  anything; 
I  did  not  ask  or  expect  to  be  promoted.  I  was 
satisfied  with  my  rank  as  a  midshipman." 

"I  did  not  ask  for  your  promotion,  though  I 
could  probably  have  procured  for  you  the  rank  of 
master  when'  you  entered  the  navy.  I  do  not 
like  to  ask  favors  for  a  member  of  my  own  family. 
I  have  wished  you  to  feel  that  you  were  in  the 
service  of  your  country  because  it  needs  you,  and 
not  for  glory  or  profit." 

"  And  I  have  tried  to  feel  so,  father." 

"  I  think  you  have  felt  so,  my  son  ;  and  I  am 
prouder  of  the  fact  that  you  are  a  disinterested 
patriot  than  of  the  rank  you  have  nobly  and 
bravely  won,"  said  Captain  P.assford,  as  he  took 
some  letters  from  his  pocket,  from  which  he  se- 
lected one  bearing  an  English  postage  stamp.  "  I 
have  a  letter  from  one  of  my  agents  in  England, 
which,  I  think,  contains  valuable  information.  I 
have  called  the  attention  of  the  government  to 
these  employes  of  mine,  and  they  will  soon  pass 
from  my  service  to  that  of  the  naval  department. 


18  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

The  information  sent  me  has  sometimes  been  very 
important." 

"  I  know  that  myself,  for  the  information  that 
came  from  that  source  enabled  the  Bellevite  to 
capture  the  Killbright,"  added  Christy. 

"  The  contents  of  the  letter  in  my  hand  have 
been  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  but  it 
will  do  no  harm  for  you  to  possess  the  informa- 
tion given  to  me,"  continued  Captain  Passford,  as 
he  opened  the  letter.  "  But  I  see  a  man  at  work 
at  the  foot  of  the  companion  way,  and  I  don't  care 
to  post  the  whole  ship's  company  on  this  subject." 

"That  is  Pink  Mulgrum,"  said  Christy  with  a 
smile  on  his  face.  "  He  is  deaf  and  dumb,  and 
he  cannot  make  any  use  of  what  you  say." 

"  Don't  be  sure  of  anything,  Christy,  except 
your  religion  and  3^0111*  patriotism,  in  these  times," 
added  Captain  Passford,  as  he  rose  and  closed  the 
door  of  the  cabin. 

"  I  don't  think  there  is  much  danger  from  a 
deaf  mute,  father,"  said  the  young  commander  of 
the  Bronx  laughing. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  when  you  have  war  intelli- 
gence to  communicate,  it  is  best  to  believe  that 
every  person  has  ears,  and  that  every  door  has  a 


THE  UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  BRONX   19 

keyhole.  I  learn  from  this  letter  that  the  Scotian 
sailed  from  Glasgow,  and  the  Arran  from  Leith. 
The  agent  is  of  the  opinion  that  both  these  steamers 
are  fitted  out  by  the  same  owners,  who  have  formed 
a  company,  apparently  to  furnish  the  South  with 
gunboats  for  its  navy,  as  well  as  with  needed  sup- 
plies. In  his  letter  my  correspondent  gives  me  the 
reason  for  this  belief  on  his  part." 

"  Does  your  agent  give  you  anjr  description  of 
the  vessels,  father?  "  asked  Christy,  his  eyes  spark- 
lino'  with  the  interest  he  felt  in  the  information. 

"Not  a  very  full  description,  my  son,  for  no 
strangers  were  allowed  on  board  of  either  of  them, 
for  very  obvious  reasons ;  but  they  are  both  of 
less  than  five  hundred  tons  burthen,  are  of  pre- 
cisely the  same  model  and  build,  evidently  con- 
structed in  the  same  yard.  Both  had  been 
pleasure  yachts,  though  owned  by  different  gen- 
tlemen. Both  sailed  on  the  same  day,  the  Sco- 
tian from  Greenock  and  the  Arran  from  Leith, 
March  3." 

Christy  opened  his  pocket  diary,  and  put  his 
finger  on  the  date  mentioned,  counting  up  the 
days  that  had  elapsed  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent.    Captain  Passford  could  not  help  smiling  at 


20  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

the  interest  his  son  manifested  in  the  intelligence 
he  had  brought  to  him.  The  acting  commander 
of  the  Bronx  went  over  his  calculation  again. 

"  It  is  fourteen  days  since  these  vessels  sailed," 
said  he,  looking  at  his  father.  "  I  doubt  if  your 
information  will  be  of  any  value  to  me,  for  I 
suppose  the  steamers  were  selected  on  account  of 
their  great  speed,  as  is  the  case  with  all  blockade 
runners." 

"  Undoubtedly  they  were  chosen  for  their  speed, 
for  a  slow  vessel  does  not  amount  to  much  in  this 
sort  of  service,"  replied  Captain  Passford.  "  I 
received  my  letter  day  before  yesterday,  when  the 
two  vessels  had  been  out  twelve  days." 

"  If  they  are  fast  steamers,  they  ought  to  be 
approaching  the  Southern  coast  by  this  time," 
suggested  Christy. 

"  This  is  a  windy  month,  and  a  vessel  bound  to 
the  westward  would  encounter  strong  westerly 
gales,  so  that  she  could  hardly  make  a  quick  pass- 
age. Then  these  steamers  will  almost  certainly 
put  in  at  Nassau  or  the  Bermudas,  if  not  for  coal 
and  supplies,  at  least  to  obtain  the  latest  intelli- 
gence from  the  blockaded  coast,  and  to  pick  up  a 
pilot  for  the  port  to  which  they  are  bound.     The 


THE    UNITED    STATES    STEAMER    BRONX        21 

agent  thinks  it  is  possible  that  the  Scotian  and 
Arran  will  meet  some  vessel  to  the  southward  of 
the  Isle  of  Wight  that  will  put  an  armament  on 
board  of  them.  He  had  written  to  another  of  my 
agents  at  Southampton  to  look  up  this  matter.  It 
is  a  quick  mail  from  the  latter  city  to  New  York, 
and  I  may  get  another  letter  on  this  subject  before 
you  sail,  Christy." 

**  My  orders  may  come  off  to  me  to-day,"  added 
the  acting  commander.  "  I  am  all  ready  to  sail, 
and  I  am  only  waiting  for  them." 

"  If  these  two  steamers  sail  in  company,  as  they 
are  likely  to  do  if  they  are  about  equal  in  speed, 
and  if  they  take  on  board  an  armament,  it  will 
hardly  be  prudent  for  you  to  meddle  with  them," 
said  Captain  Passford  with  a  smile,  though  he 
had  as  much  confidence  in  the  prudence  as  in  the 
bravery  of  his  son. 

"  What  shall  I  do,  father,  run  away  from  them  ?" 
asked  Christy,  opening  his  eyes  very  wide. 

"  Certainly,  my  son.  There  is  as  much  patriot- 
ism in  running  away  from  a  superior  force  as  there 
is  in  fighting  an  equal,  for  if  the  government 
should  lose  your  vessel  and  lose  you  and  your 
ship's  company,  it  would  be  a  disaster  of  more  or 
less  consequence  to  your  country." 


22  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  I  hardly  think  I  shall  fall  in  with  the  Scotian 
and  the  Arran,  so  I  will  not  consider  the  question 
of  running  away  from  them,"  said  Christy  laugh- 
ing. 

"You  have  not  received  your  orders  yet,  but 
they  will  probably  require  you  to  report  at  once 
to  the  flag-officer  in  the  Gulf,  and  perhaps  they 
will  not  permit  you  to  look  up  blockade  runners 
on  the  high  seas,"  suggested  Captain  Passford. 
"  These  vessels  may  be  fully  armed  and  manned, 
in  charge  of  Confederate  naval  officers  ;  and  doubt- 
less they  will  be  as  glad  to  pick  up  the  Bronx  as 
you  would  be  to  pick  up  the  Scotian  or  the  Arran. 
You  don't  know  yet  whether  they  will  come  as 
simple  blockade  runners,  or  as  naval  vessels  fly- 
ing the  Confederate  flag.  Whatever  your  orders, 
Christy,  don't  allow  yourself  to  be  carried  away 
by  any  Quixotic  enthusiasm." 

"  I  don't  think  I  have  any  more  than  half  as 
much  audacity  as  Captain  Breaker  said  I  had. 
As  I  look  upon  it,  my  first  duty  is  to  deliver  my 
ship  over  to  the  flag-officer  in  the  Gulf;  and  I 
suppose  I  shall  be  instructed  to  pick  up  a  Confed- 
erate cruiser  or  a  blockade  runner,  if  one  should 
cross  my  course." 


THE   UNITED    STATES   STEAMER   BRONX        23 

"  Obey  your  orders,  Christy,  whatever  they  may 
be.  Now,  I  should  like  to  look  over  the  Bronx 
before  I  go  on  shore,"  said  Captain  Passford.  "  I 
think  you  said  she  was  of  about  two  hundred 
tons." 

"  That  was  what  they  said  down  south  ;  but  she 
is  about  three  hundred  tons,"  replied  Christy,  as 
.  he  proceeded  to  show  his  father  the  cabin  in  which 
the  conversation  had  taken  place. 

The  captain's  cabin  was  in  the  stern  of  the 
vessel,  according  to  the  orthodox  rule  in  naval 
vessels.  Of  course  it  was  small,  though  it  seemed 
large  to  Christy  who  had  spent  so  much  of  his 
leisure  time  in  the  cabin  of  the  Florence,  his  sail- 
boat on  the  Hudson.  It  was  substantially  fitted 
up,  with  little  superfluous  ornamentation ;  but  it 
was  a  complete  parlor,  as  a  landsman  would  regard 
it.  From  it,  on  the  port  side  opened  the  captain's 
state  room,  which  was  quite  ample  for  a  vessel  no 
larger  than  the  Bronx.  Between  it  and  the  pan- 
try on  the  starboard  side,  was  a  gangway  leading 
from  the  foot  of  the  companion  way,  by  which  the 
captain's  cabin  and  the  ward  room  were  accessible 
from  the  quarter  deck. 

Crossing  the  gangway  at  the  foot  of  the  steps, 


24  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Christy  led  the  way  into  the  ward  room,  where  the 
principal  officers  were  accommodated.  It  contained 
four  berths,  with  portieres  in  front  of  them,  which 
could  be  drawn  out  so  as  to  inclose  each  one  in 
a  temporary  state  room.  The  forward  berth  on 
the  starboard  side  was  occupied  by  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  the  after  one  by  the  second  lieutenant, 
according  to  the  custom  in  the  navy.  On  the  port 
side,  the  forward  berth  belonged  to  the  chief  en- 
gineer, and  the  after  one  to  the  surgeon.  Forward 
of  this  was  the  steerage,  in  which  the  boatswain, 
gunner,  carpenter,  the  assistant  engineers,  and  the 
steward  were  berthed.  Each  of  these  apartments 
was  provided  with  a  table  upon  which  the  meals 
were  served  to  the  officers  occupying  it.  The  eti- 
quette of  a  man-of-war  is  even  more  exacting  than 
that  of  a  drawing  room  on  shore. 

Captain  Passford  was  then  conducted  to  the 
deck  where  he  found  the  officers  and  seamen  en- 
gaged in  their  various  duties.  Besides  his  son, 
the  former  owner  of  the  Bellevite  was  acquainted 
with  only  two  persons  on  board  of  the  Bronx, 
Sampson,  the  engineer,  and  Flint,  the  acting  first 
lieutenant,  both  of  whom  had  served  on  board  of 
the  steam,  yacht.     Christy's  father  gave  them  a 


THE    UNITED    STATES    STEAMER    BRONX        25 

hearty  greeting,  and  both  were  as  glad  to  see  him 
as  he  was  to  greet  them.  Captain  Passford  then 
lookedover  the  rest  of  the  ship's  company  with  a 
deeper  interest  than  he  cared  to  manifest,  for  they 
were  to  some  extent  bound  up  with  the  immediate 
future  of  his  son.  It  was  not  such  a  ship's  com- 
pany as  that  which  manned  the  Bellevite,  though 
composed  of  much  good  material.  The  captain 
shook  hands  with  his  son,  and  went  on  board  of 
his  boat.  Two  hours  later  he  came  on  board 
again. 


26  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   II 

A  DINNER   FOR   THE   CONFEDERACY 

Christy  Passford  was  not  a  little  surprised 
to  see -his  father  so  soon  after  his  former  visit,  and 
he  was  confident  that  he  had  some  good  reason  for 
coming.  He  conducted  him  at  once  to  his  cabin, 
where  Captain  Passford  immediately  seated  him- 
self at  the  table,  and  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
telegram. 

"  I  found  this  on  my  desk  when  I  went  to  my 
office,"  said  he,  opening  a  cable  message,  and 
placing  it  before  Christy. 

" '  Mutton,  three  veal,  four  sea  chickens,' " 
Christy  read  from  the  paper  placed  before  him, 
laughing  all  the  time  as  he  thought  it  was  a  joke 
of  some  sort.  M  Signed  '  Warnock.'  It  looks  as 
though  somebody  was  going  to  have  a  dinner, 
father.  Mutton,  veal,  and  four  sea  chickens  seem 
to  form  the  substantial  of  the  feast,  though  I 
never  ate  anv  sea  chickens." 


A   DINNER   FOR   THE   CONFEDERACY  27 

"  Perhaps  somebody  will  have  a  dinner,  but  I 
hope  it  will  prove  to  be  indigestible  to  those  for 
whom  it  is  provided,"  added  Captain  Passford, 
amused  at  the  comments  of  his  son. 

"  The  message  is  signed  by  Warnock.  I  don't 
happen  to  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance, 
and  I  don't  see  why  he  has  taken  the  trouble  to 
send  you  this  bill  of  fare,"  chuckled  the  com- 
mander of  the   Bronx. 

"  This  bill  of  fare  is  of  more  importance  to  me, 
and  especially  to  you,  than  you  seem  to  under- 
stand." 

"  It  is  all  Greek  to  me  ;  and  I  wonder  why 
Warnock,  whoever  he  may  be,  has  spent  his 
money  in  sending  you  such  a  message,  though  I 
suppose  you  know  who  is  to  eat  this  dinner." 

"  The  expense  of  sending  the  cablegram  is 
charged  to  me,  though  the  dinner  is  prepared  for 
the  Confederate  States  of  America.  Of  course  I 
understand  it,  for  if  I  could  not,  it  would  not  have' 
been  sent  to  me,"  replied  Captain  Passford,  assum- 
ing a  very  serious  expression.  "  You  know  War- 
nock, for  he  has  often  been  at  Bonnydale,  though 
not  under  the  name  he  signs  to  this  message.  My 
three  agents,  one  in  the  north,  one  in  the  south, 


28  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

and  one  in  the  west  of  England,  have  each  an 
assumed  name.  They  are  Otis,  Barnes,  and 
Wilson,  and  you  know  them  all.  They  have 
been  captains  or  mates  in  my  employ ;  and  they 
know  all  about  a  vessel  when  they  see  it." 

"  I  know  them  all  very  well,  and  they  are  all 
good  friends  of  mine,"  added  Christy. 

"  Warnock  is  Captain  Barnes,  and  this  message 
comes  from  him.  Captain  Otis  signs  himself 
Bixwell  in  his  letters  and  cablegrams,  and  Mr. 
Wilson,  who  was  formerly  mate  of  the  Manhattan, 
uses  the  name  of  Fleetley." 

"  I  begin  to  see  into  your  system,  father ;  and 
I  suppose  the  government  will  carry  out  your 
plan." 

"  Very  likely ;  for  it  would  hardly  be  proper  to 
send  such  information  as  these  men  have  to  trans- 
mit in  plain  English,  for  there  may  be  spies  or 
operators  bribed  by  Confederate  agents  to  suppress 
such  matter." 

"I  see.  I  understand  the  system  very  well, 
father,"  said  Christy. 

"  It  is  simple  enough,"  added  his  father,  as  he 
took  a  paper  from  his  pocket-book. 

"  If  you  only  understand  it,  it  is  simple  enough." 


A  DINNER  FOR  THE  CONFEDERACY     29 

"  I  can  interpret  the  language  of  this  message, 
and  there  is  not  another  person  on  the  western 
continent  that  can  do  so.  Now,  look  at  the 
cablegram,  Christy,"  continued  Captain  Passford, 
as  he  opened  the  paper  he  held  in  his  hand. 
"What  is  the  first  word?" 

"  Mutton,"  replied  the  commander. 

"  Mutton  means  armed ;  that  is  to  say  the  Sco- 
tian  and  the  Arran  took  an  armament  on  board  at 
some  point  south  of  England,  as  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  the  intelligence  comes  from  Warnock. 
In  about  a  week  the  mail  will  bring  me  a  letter 
from  him  in  which  he  will  explain  how  he  obtained 
this  information." 

"  He  must  have  chartered=a  steamer  and  cruised 
off  the  Isle  of  Wight  to  pick  it  up,"  suggested 
Christy. 

"He  is  instructed  to  do  that  when  necessary. 
What  is  the  next  word  ?  " 

" '  Three,'  "  replied  Christy. 

"  One  means  large,  two  medium,  and  three 
small,"  explained  Ins  father.  "  Three  what,  does 
it  say  ?  " 

"  '  Three  veal.'  " 

"  Veal  means  ship's  company,  or  crew." 


30  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Putting  tlie  pieces  together,  then,  '  three  veal ' 
means  that  the  Scotian  and  the  Arran  have  small 
crews,"  said  Christy,  intensely  interested  in  the 
information. 

"  Precisely  so.  Read  the  rest  of  the  message," 
added  Captain  Passford. 

"  '  Four  sea  chickens,'  "  the  commander  read. 

"'Four'  means  some,  a  few,  no  great  number; 
in  other  words,  rather  indefinite.  Very  likely 
Warnock  could  not  obtain  exact  information.  '  C ' 
stands  for  Confederate,  and  '  sea '  is  written  in- 
stead of  the  letter.  '  Chickens '  means  officers. 
'  Four  sea  chickens,'  translated  means  'some  Con- 
federate officers.'  " 

Christy  had  written  down  on  a  piece  of  paper 
the  solution  of  the  enigma,  as  interpreted  by  his 
father,  though  not  the  symbol  words  of  the  cable- 
gram. He  continued  to  write  for  a  little  longer 
time,  amplifying  and  filling  in  the  wanting  parts 
of  the  message.  Then  he  read  what  he  had  writ- 
ten, as  follows :  •' '  The  Scotian  and  the  Arran  are 
armed ;  there  are  some  Confederate  officers  on 
board,  but  their  ship's  companies  are  small.'  Is 
that  it,  father?" 

"  That  is  the  substance  of  it,"  replied  Captain 


A   DINNER   FOE,   THE   CONFEDERACY  31 

Eassford,  as  he  restored  the  key  of  the  cipher  to 
his  pocket-book,  and  rose  from  his  seat.  "  Now 
you  know  all  that  can  be  known  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic  in  regard  to  the  two  steamers.  The 
important  information  is  that  they  are  armed,  and 
even  with  small  crews  they  may  be  able  to  sink 
the  Bronx,  if  you  should  happen  to  fall  in  with 
them,  or  if  your  orders  required  you  to  be  on  the 
lookout  for  them.     There  is  a  knock  at  the  door." 

Christy  opened  the  door,  and  found  a  naval 
officer  waiting  to  see  him.  He  handed  him  a 
formidable  looking  envelope,  with  a  great  seal 
upon  it.  The  young  commander  looked  at  its 
address,  and  saw  that  it  came  from  the  Navy 
Department.  With  it  was  a  letter,  which  he 
opened.  It  was  an  order  for  the  immediate  sail- 
ing of  the  Bronx,  the  sealed  orders  to  be  opened 
when  she  reached  latitude  38°  N.  The  messenger 
spoke  some  pleasant  words,  and  then  took  his 
leave.  Christy  returned  to  the  cabin,  and  showed 
the  ponderous  envelope  to  his  father. 

"  Sealed  orders,  as  I  supposed  you  would  have," 
said  Captain  Passford. 

"  And  this  is  my  order  to  sail  immediately  on 
receipt  of  it,"  added  Christy. 


32  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  Then  I  must  leave  you,  my  son ;  and  may  the 
blessing  of  God  go  with  you  wherever  your  duty 
calls  you! "  exclaimed  the  father,  not  a  little  shaken 
by  his  paternal  feelings.  "  Be  brave,  be  watchful ; 
but  be  prudent  under  all  circumstances.  Bravery 
and  Prudence  ought  to  be  twin  sisters,  and  I  hope 
you  will  always  have  one  of  them  on  each  side  of 
you.  I  am  not  afraid  that  you  will  be  a  poltroon, 
a  coward ;  but  I  do  fear  that  your  enthusiasm  may 
carry  you  farther  than  you  ought  to  go." 

"  I  nope  not,  father  ;  and  your  last  words  to  me 
shall  be  remembered.  When  I  am  about  to  engage 
in  any  important  enterprise,  I  will  recall  your 
admonition,  and  ask  myself  if  I  am  heeding  it." 

"  That  satisfies  me.  I  wish  you  had  such  a  ship's 
company  as  we  had  on  board  of  the  Bellevite; 
but  you  have  a  great  deal  of  good  material,  and 
I  am  confident  that  you  will  make  the  best  use 
of  it.  Remember  that  you  are  fighting  for  your 
country  and  the  best  government  God  ever  gave 
to  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Be  brave,  be  prudent ; 
but  be  a  Christian,  and  let  no  mean,  cruel  or 
unworthy  action  stain  your  record." 

Captain  Passford  took  the  hand  of  his  son,  and 
though  neither  of  them  wept,  both  of  them  were 


A  DINNER  FOE  THB  CONFEDERACY     33 

under  the  influence  of  the  strongest  emotions. 
Christy  accompanied  his  father  to  the  accommoda- 
tion ladder,  and  shook  hands  with  him  again  as 
he  embarked  in  his  boat.  His  mother  and  his 
sister  had  been  on  board  that  day,  and  the  young 
commander  had  parted  from  them  with  quite  as 
much  emotion  as  on  the  present  occasion.  The 
members  of  the  family  were  devotedly  attached 
to  each  other,  and  in  some  respects  the  event 
seemed  like  a  funeral  to  all  of  them,  and  not  less 
to  Christy  than  to  the  others,  though  he  was  en- 
tering upon  a  very  exalted  duty  for  one  of  his 
years. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  Mr.  Flint,"  said  Christy, 
after  he  had  watched  the  receding  boat  that  bore 
away  his  father  for  a  few  minutes. 

"  On  duty,  Captain  Passford,"  said  the  first 
lieutenant,  touching  his  cap  to  him  a  few  minutes 
later. 

"  Heave  short  the  anchor,  and  make  ready  to 
get  under  way,"  added  the  commander. 

"  Heave  short,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Flint,  as  he 
touched  his  cap  and  retired.  "  Pass  the  word  for 
Mr.  Giblock." 

Mr.   Giblock   was   the   boatswain    of   the    ship, 


34  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

though  he  had  only  the  rank  of  a  boatswain's 
mate.  He  was  an  old  sailor,  as  salt  as  a  barrel 
of  pickled  pork,  and  knew  his  duty  from  keel  to 
truck.  In  a  few  moments  his  pipe  was  heard,  and 
the  seamen  began  to  walk  around  the  capstan. 

"  Cable  up  and  down,  sir,"  said  the  boatswain, 
reporting  to  the  second  lieutenant  on  the  fore- 
castle. 

Mr.  Lillyworth  was  the  acting  second  lieuten- 
ant, though  he  was  not  to  be  attached  to  the 
Bronx  after  she  reached  her  destination  in  the 
Gulf.  He  repeated  the  report  from  the  boatswain 
to  the  first  lieutenant.  The  steamer  was  rigged 
as  a  topsail  schooner ;  but  the  wind  was  contrary, 
and  no  sail  was  set  before  getting  under  way. 
The  capstan  was  manned  again,  and  as  soon  as 
the  report  came  from  the  second  lieutenant  that 
the  anchor  was  aweigh,  the  first  lieutenant  gave 
the  order  to  strike  one  bell,  which  meant  that  the 
steamer  was  to  go  "ahead  slow." 

The  Bronx  had  actually  started  on  her  mission, 
and  the  heart  of  Christy  swelled  in  his  bosom  as 
he  looked  over  the  vessel,  and  realized  that  he  was 
in  command,  though  not  for  more  than  a  week  or 
two.     All  the  courtesies  and  ceremonies  were  duly 


A  DINNER  FOR  THE  CONFEDERACY     35 

attended  to,  and  the  steamer,  as  soon  as  the  anchor 
had  been  catted  and  fished,  at  the  stroke  of  four 
bells,  went  ahead  at  full  speed,  though,  as  the  fires 
had  been  banked  in  the  furnaces,  the  engine  was 
not  working  up  to  its  capacity.  In  a  couple  of 
hours  more  she  was  outside  of  Sandy  Hook,  and 
on  the  broad  ocean.  The  ship's  company  had  been 
drilled  to  their  duties,  and  everything  worked  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  young  commander. 

The  wind  was  ahead  and  light.  All  hands  had 
been  stationed,  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  the 
first  dog  watch  was  on  duty,  and  there  was  not 
much  that  could  be  called  work  for  any  one  to 
do.  Mr.  Lillyworth,  the  second  lieutenant,  had 
the  deck,  and  Christy  had  retired  to  his  cabin  to  ' 
think  over  the  events  of  the  day,  especially  those 
relating  to  the  Scotian  and  the  Arran.  He  had 
not  yet  read  his  orders,  and  he  could  not  decide 
what  he  should  do,  even  if  he  discovered  the  two 
steamers  in  his  track.  He  sat  in  his  arm  chair 
with  the  door  of  the  cabin  open,  and  when  he  saw 
the  first  lieutenant  on  his  way  to  the  ward  room, 
he  called  him  in. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Flint,  what  do  you  think  of  our 
crew  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  after  he  had  seated  his 
guest. 


36  ON   THE  BLOCKADE 

"  I  have  hardly  seen  enough  of  the  men  to  be 
able  to  form  an  opinion,"  replied  Flint.  "I  am 
afraid  we  have  some  hard  material  on  board, 
though  there  are  a  good  many  first-class  fellows 
among  them." 

"  Of  course  we  can  not  expect  to  get  such  a 
crew  as  we  had  in  the  Bellevite.  How  do  you 
like  Mr.  Lillyworth  ? "  asked  the  commander, 
looking  sharply  into  the  eye  of  his  subordinate. 

"  I  don't  like  him,"  replied  Flint,  bluntly. 
"  You  and  I  have  been  in  some  tight  places 
together,  and  it  is  best  to  speak  our  minds 
squarely." 

"  That's  right,  Mr.  Flint.  We  will  talk  of  him 
another  time.  I  have  another  matter  on  my  mind 
just  now,"  added  Christy. 

He  proceeded  to  tell  the  first  lieutenant  some- 
thing about  the  two  steamers. 


THE   INTRUDER    AT   THE   CABIN   DOOR  37 


CHAPTER   III 

THE   INTRUDER   AT   THE   CABIN   DOOR 

Before  he  said  anything  about  the  Scotian  and 
the  Arran,  Christy,  mindful  of  the  injunction  of 
his  father,  had  closed  the  cabin  door,  the  portiere 
remaining  drawn  as  it  was  before.  When  he  had 
taken  this  precaution,  he  related  some  of  the  par- 
ticulars which  had  been  given  to  him  earlier  in 
the  day. 

"It  is*  hardly  worth  while  to  talk  about  the 
matter  yet  awhile,"  added  Christy.  "  I  have  my 
sealed  orders,  and  I  can  not  open  the  envelope 
until  we  are  in  latitude  38,  and  that  will  be  some- 
time to-morrow  forenoon." 

"I  don't  think  that  Captain  Folkner,  who  ex- 
pected to  be  in  command  of  the  Teaser,  as  she  was 
called  before  we  put  our  hands  upon  her,  over- 
estimated her  speed,"  replied  Lieutenant  Flint, 
consulting  his  watch.  "  We  are  making  fifteen 
knots  an  hour  just  now,  and  Mr.  Sampson  is  not 


38  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

hurrying  her.  I  have  been  watching  her  very 
closely  since  we  left  Sandy  Hook,  and  I  really 
believe  she  will  make  eighteen  knots  with  a  little 
crowding." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Flint  ?  "  asked 
Christy,  much  interested  in  the  statement  of  the 
first  lieutenant. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  natural  for  a  sailor  to  fall  in 
love  with  his  ship,  and  that  is  my  condition  in 
regard  to  the  Bronx,"  replied  Flint,  with  a  smile 
which  was  intended  as  a  mild  apology  for  his 
weakness.  "  I  used  to  be  in  love  with  the  coast- 
ing schooner  I  owned  and  commanded,  and  I 
almost  cried  when  I  had  to  sell  her." 

"  I  don't  think  you  need  to  be  ashamed  of  this 
sentiment,  or  that  an  inanimate  structure  should 
call  it  into  being,"  said  the  young  commander. 
"I  am  sure  I  have  not  ceased  to  love  the  Belle- 
vite ;  and  in  my  eyes  she  is  handsomer  than  any 
young  lady  I  over  saw.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
transfer  my  affections  to  the  Bronx  as  yet,  and 
she  will  have  to  do  something  very  remarkable 
before  I  do  so.  But  about  the  speed  of  our 
ship  ?  " 

"  I  have   noticed   particularly   how   easily   and 


THE   INTRUDER   AT   THE   CABIN   DOOR  39 

gracefully  she  makes  her  way  through  the  water 
when  she  is  going  fifteen  knots.  Why  that  is 
faster  than  most  of  the  ocean  passenger  steamers 
travel." 

"  Very  true  ;  but  like  many  of  these  blockade 
runners  and  other  vessels  which  the  Confederate 
government  and  rich  men  at  the  South  have  pur- 
chased in  the  United  Kingdom,  she  was  doubtless 
built  on  the  Clyde.  Not  a  few  of  them  have  been 
constructed  for  private  yachts,  and  I  have  no  doubt, 
from  what  I  have  seen,  that  the  Bronx  is  one  of 
the  number.  The  Scotian  and  the  Arran  belonged 
to  wealthy  Britishers ;  and  of  course  they  were 
built  in  the  very  best  manner,  and  were  intended 
to  attain  the  very  highest  rate  of  speed." 

"  I  shall  count  on  eighteen  knots  at  least  on 
the  part  of  the  Bronx  when  the  situation  shall 
require  her  to  do  her  best.  By  the  way,  Captain 
Passford,  don't  you  think  that  a  rather  queer  name 
has  been  given  to  our  steamer  ?  Bronx  !  I  am 
willing  to  confess  that  I  don't  know  what  the 
word  means,  or  whether  it  is  fish,  flesh  or  fowl," 
continued  Flint. 

"It  is  nofc  fish,  flesh  or  fowl,"  replied  Christy, 
laughing.      "  My  father   suggested   the   name   to 


40  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

the  Department,  and  it  was  adopted.  He  talked 
with  me  about  a  name,  as  he  thought  I  had  some 
interest  in  her,  for  the  reason  that  I  had  done 
something  in  picking  her  up." 

"Done  something?  I  should  say  that  you  had 
done  it  all,"  added  Flint. 

"  I  did  my  share.  The  vessels  of  the  navy  have 
generally  been  named  after  a  system,  though  it 
has  often  been  varied.  Besides  the  names  of 
states  and  cities,  the  names  of  rivers  have  been 
given  to.  vessels.  The  Bronx  is  the  name  of  a 
small  stream,  hardly  more  than  a  brook,  in  West 
Chester  County,  New  York.  When  I  was  a  small 
boy,  my  father  had  a  country  place  on  its  banks, 
and  I  did  my  first  paddling  in  the  water  in  the 
Bronx.  I  liked  the  name,  and  my  father  recom- 
mended it." 

"  I  don't  object  to  the  name,  though  somehow  it 
makes  me  think  of  a  walnut  cracked  in  your  teeth 
when  I  hear  it  pronounced,"  added  Flint.  "  Now 
that  I  know  what  it  is  and  what  it  means,  I  shall 
take  more  kindly  to  it,  though  I  am  afraid  we 
shall  get  to  calling  her  the  Bronxy  before  we  have 
done  with  her,  especially  if  she  gets  to  be  a  pet, 
for  the  name  seems  to  need  another  syllable." 


THE   INTRUDER   AT   THE   CABIN  DOOR  41 

"Young  men  fall  in  love  with  girls  without 
regard  to  their  names." 

"  That's  so.  A  friend  of  mine  in  our  town  in 
Maine  fell  in  love  with  a  young  lady  by  the  name 
of  Leatherbee ;  but  she  was  a  very  pretty  girl  and 
her  name  was  all  the  objection  I  had  to  her,"  said 
Flint,  chuckling. 

u  But  that  was  an  objection  which  your  friend 
evidently  intended  to  remove  at  no  very  distant 
day,"  suggested  Christy. 

"  Very  true ;  and  he  did  remove  it  some  years 
ago.  What  was  that  noise  ? "  asked  the  first 
lieutenant,  suddenly  rising  from  his  seat. 

Christy  heard  the  sounds  at  the  same  moment. 
He  and  his  companion  in  the  cabin  had  been  talk- 
ing about  the  Scotian  and  the  Arran,  and  what  his 
father  had  said  to  him  about  prudence  in  speaking 
of  his  movements  came  to  his  mind.  The  noise 
was  continued,  and  he  hastened  to  the  door  of  his 
state  room,  and  threw  it  open.  In  the  room  he 
found  Dave  hard  at  work  on  the  furniture ;  he 
had  taken  out  the  berth  sack,  and  was  brushing 
out  the  inside  of  the  berth.  The  noise  had  been 
made  by  the  shaking  of  the  slats  on  which  the 
mattress  rested.     Davis  Talbot,  the  cabin  steward 


42  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

of  the  Bronx,  had  been  captured  in  the  vessel 
when  she  was  run  out  of  Pensacola  Bay  some 
months  before.  As  lie  was  a  very  intelligent 
colored  man,  or  rather  mulatto,  though  they  were 
all  the  same  at  the  South,  the  young  commander 
had  selected  him  for  his  present  service  ;  and  he 
never  had  occasion  to  regret  the  choice.  Dave 
had  passed  his  time  since  the  Teaser  arrived  at 
New  York  at  Bonnydale,  and  he  had  become  a 
great  favorite,  not  only  with  Christy,  but  with  all 
the  members  of  the  family. 

"  What  are  you  about,  Dave  ? "  demanded 
Christy,  not  a  little  astonished  to  find  the  steward 
in  his  room. 

"  I  am  putting  the  room  in  order  for  the  captain, 
sir,"  replied  Dave  with  a  cheerful  smile,  such  as 
he  always  wore  in  the  presence  of  .his  superiors. 
"  I  found  something  in  this  berth  I  did  not  like  to 
see  about  a  bed  in  which  a  gentleman  is  to  sleep, 
and  I  have  been  through  it  with  poison  and  a 
feather ;  and  I  will  give  you  the  whole  southern 
Confederacy  if  you  find  a  single  redback  in  the 
berth  after  this." 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  have  attended  to  this 
matter  at  once,  Dave." 


THE  INTRUDER  AT  THE  CABIN  DOOR    43 

"Yes,  sir;  Captain  Folkner  never  let  me  attend 
to  it  properly,  for  he  was  afraid  I  would  read  some 
of  his  papers  on  the  desk.  He  was  willing  to  sleep 
six  in  a  bed  with  redbacks,"  chuckled  Dave. 

"  Well,  I  am  not,  or  even  two  in  a  bed  with 
iuch  companions.  How  long  have  you  been  in 
•ny  room,  Dave?"  added  Christy. 

"  More  than  two  hours,  I  think ;  and  I  have 
been  mighty  busy  too." 

" Did  you  hear  me  when  I  came  into  the  cabin?" 

"No,  sir,  I  did  not;  but  I  heard  you  talking  with 
somebody  a  while  ago." 

"  What  did  I  say  to  the  other  person  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir ;  I  could  not  make  out  a 
word,  and  I  didn't  stop  in  my  work  to  listen.  I 
have  been  very  busy,  Captain  Passford,"  answered 
Dave,  beginning  to  think  he  had  been  doing  some- 
thing that  was  not  altogether  regular. 

"  Don't  you  know  what  we  were  talking  about, 
Dave?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  did  not  make  out  a  single  word  you 
said,"  protested  the  steward,  really  troubled  to  find 
that  he  had  done  something  wrong,  though  he  had 
not  the  least  idea  what  it  was.  "  I  did  not  mean 
to  do  any  tiling  out  of  the  way,  Captain  Passford." 


44  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"I  have  no  fault  to  find  this  time,  Dave." 

"  I  should  hope  not,  sir,"  added  Dave,  looking 
as  solemn  as  a  sleepy  owl.  "  I  would  jump  over- 
board before  I  would  offend  you,  Massa  Christy." 

uYou  need  not  jump  overboard  just  yet,"  re- 
plied the  captain,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  intended 
to  remove  the  fears  of  the  steward.  "But  I  want 
to  make  a  new  rule  for  you,  Dave." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  if  you  sit  up  nights  to  make 
rules  for  me,  I  will  obey  all  of  them ;  and  I  would 
give  you  the  whole  State  of  Florida  before  I  would 
break  one  of  them  on  purpose,  Massa  Christy." 

"Massa  Christy!  "  exclaimed  the  captain,  laugh- 
ing. 

"  Massa  Captain  Passford !  "  shouted  Dave, 
hastening  to  correct  his  over-familiarity. 

"  I  don't  object  to  your  calling  me  Christy  when 
we  are  alone,  for  I  look  upon  you  as  my  friend, 
and  I  have  tried  to  treat  you  as  a  gentleman, 
though  you  are  a  subordinate.  But  are  you  going 
to  be  a  nigger  again,  and  call  white  men  '  Massa?  ' 
I  told  you  not  to  use  that  word." 

"  I  done  forget  it  when  I  got  excited  because 
I  was  afraid  I  had  offended  you,"  pleaded  the 
steward. 


THE   INTRUDER   AT   THE   CABIN   DOOR  45 

"  Your  education  is  vastly  superior  to  most 
people  of  your  class,  and  you  should  not  belittle 
yourself.  This  is  my  cabin ;  and  I  shall  some- 
times have  occasion  to  talk  confidentially  with 
my  officers.  Do  you  understand  what  I  mean, 
Dave  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,  Captain  Passford ;  I  know  what  it 
is  to  talk  confidently  and  what  it  is  to  talk  con- 
fidentially, and  you  do  both,  sir,"  replied  the 
steward. 

"  But  I  am  sometimes  more  confidential  than 
confident.  Now  you  must  do  all  your  work  in  my 
state  room  when  I  am  not  in  the  cabin,  and  this 
is  the  new  rule,"  said  Christy,  as  he  went  out  of 
the  room.  "  I  know  that  I  can  trust  you,  Dave  ; 
but  when  I  tell  a  secret  I  want  to  know  to  how 
many  persons  I  am  telling  it.  You  may  finish 
your  work  now ; "  and  he  closed  the  door. 

Christy  could  not  have  explained  why  he  did 
so  if  it  had  been  required  of  him,  but  he  went 
directly  to  the  door  leading  out  into  the  compan- 
ion way,  and  suddenly  threw  it  wide  open,  draw- 
ing the  portiere  aside  at  the  same  time.  Not  a 
little  to  his  surprise,  for  he  had  not  expected  it,  he 
found  a  man  there  ;  and  the  intruder  was  down 


46  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

on  his  knees,  as  if  in  position  to  place  his  ear  at 
the  keyhole.  This  time  the  young  commander 
was  indignant,  and  without  stopping  to  consider 
as  long  as  the  precepts  of  his  father  required,  he 
seized  the  man  by  the  collar,  and  dragged  him 
into  the  cabin. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there?  "  demanded  Christy 
in  the  heat  of  his  indignation. 

The  intruder,  who  was  a  rather  stout  man, 
began  to  shake  his  head  with  all  his  might,  and 
to  put  the  fore  finger  of  his  right  hand  on  his 
mouth  and  one  of  his  ears.  He  was  big  enough 
to  have  given  the  young  commander  a  deal  of 
trouble  if  he  had  chosen  to  resist  the  force  used 
upon  him ;  but  he  appeared  to  be  tame  and  sub- 
missive. He  did  not  speak,  but  he  seemed  to  be 
exerting  himself  to  the  utmost  to  make  himself 
understood.  Flint  had  resumed  his  seat  at  the 
table,  facing  the  door,  and  in  spite  of  himself, 
apparently,  he  began  to  laugh. 

"That  is  Pink  Mulgrum,  Captain  Passford," 
said  he,  evidently  to  prevent  his  superior  from 
misinterpreting  the  lightness  of  his  conduct.  "  As 
you  are  aware,  he  is  deaf  and  dumb." 

"I  see  who  he  is  now,"  replied  Christy,  who 


MULGRUM   AT  THE   CAPTAIN'S   DOOR. 


THE  INTRUDER  AT  THE  CABIN  DOOR    47 

had  just  identified  the  man.  "  He  may  be  deaf 
and  dumb,  but  he  seems  to  have  a  great  deal  of 
business  at  the  door  of  my  cabin." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  he  is  as  deaf  as  the  keel  of 
the  ship,  and  I  have  not  yet  heard  him  speak  a 
word,"  added  the  first  lieutenant.  "  But  he  is  a 
stout  fellow,  very  patriotic,  and  willing  to  work." 

"  All  that  may  be,  but  I  have  found  him  once 
before  hanging  around  that  door  to-day." 

At  this  moment  Mulgrum  took  from  his  pocket 
a  tablet  of  paper  and  a  pencil,  and  wrote  upon  it, 
"  I  am  a  deaf  mute,  and  I  don't  know  what  you 
are  talking  about."  Christy  read  it,  and  then 
wrote,  "  What  were  you  doing  at  the  door  ?  " 
He  replied  that  he  had  been  sent  by  Mr.  Lilly- 
worth  to  clean  the  brasses  on  the  door.  He  was 
then  dismissed. 


48  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   IV 

A  DEAF   AND   DUMB   MYSTERY 

As  lie  dismissed  Mulgrum,  Christy  tore  off  the 
leaf  from  the  tablet  on  which  both  of  them  had 
written  before  he  handed  it  back  to  the  owner. 
For  a  few  moments  he  said  nothing,  and  had  his 
attention  fixed  on  the  paper  in  his  hand,  which  he 
seemed  to  be  studying  for  some  reason  of  his  own. 

"  That  man  writes  a  very  good  hand  for  one 
in  his  position,"  said  he,  looking  at  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

"I  had  noticed  that  before,"  replied  Flint,  as 
the  commander  handed  him  the  paper,  which  he 
looked  over  with  interest.  "I  had  some  talk  with 
him  on  his  tablet  the  day  he  came  on  board.  He 
strikes  me  as  a  very  intelligent  and  well-educated 
man." 

"  Was  he  born  a  deaf  mute  ?  "  asked  Christy. 

"  I  did  not  think  to  ask  him  that  question ;  but 
I  judged  from  the  language  he  used  and  his  rapid 


A   DEAF    AND    DUMB    MYSTERY  49 

A\~iting  that  he  was  well  educated.  There  is 
character  in  his  handwriting  too ;  and  that  is 
hardly  to  be  expected  from  a  deaf  mute,"  replied 
Flint. 

"Being  a  deaf  mute,  he  can  not  have  been 
shipped  as  a  seaman,  or  even  as  an  ordinary 
steward,"  suggested  the  captain. 

"Of  course  not;  he  was  employed  as  a  sort  of 
scullion  to  be  worked  wherever  he  could  make 
himself  useful.  Mr.  Nawood  engaged  him  on  the 
recommendation  of  Mr.  Lillyworth,"  added  Flint, 
with  something  like  a  frown  on  his  brow,  as  though 
he  had  just  sounded  a  new  idea. 

"  Have  you '  asked  Mr.  Lillyworth  anything 
about  him  ?  " 

"  I  have  not ;  for  somehow  Mr.  Lillyworth  and 
I  don't  seem  to  be  very  affectionate  towards  each 
other,  though  we  get  along  very  well  together. 
But  M nigrum  wrote  out  for  me  that  he  was  born 
in  Cherryfield,  Maine,  and  obtained  his  education 
as  a  deaf  mute  in  Hartford.  I  learned  the  deaf 
and  dumb  alphabet  when  I  was  a  schoolmaster, 
as  a  pastime,  and  I  had  some  practice  with  it  in 
the  house  where  I  boarded." 

"Then  you  can  talk  in  that  way  with  Mulgrum." 


50  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it ;  he  knows  nothing  at  all  about 
the  deaf  and  dumb  alphabet,  and  could  not  spell 
out  a  single  word  I  gave  him." 

"  That  is  very  odd,"  added  the  captain  musing. 

"  So  I  thought ;  but  he  explained  it  by  saying 
that  at  the  school  they  were  changing  this  method 
of  communication  for  that  of  actually  speaking 
and  understanding  what  was  said  by  observing 
the  vocal  organs.  He  had  not  remained  long 
enough  to  master  this  method ;  in  fact  he  had 
done  all  his  talking  with  his  tablets." 

"  It  is  a  little  strange  that  he  should  not  have 
learned  either  method  of  communication." 

"  I  thought  so  myself,  and  said  as  much  to  him  ; 
but  he  told  me  that  he  had  inherited  considerable 
property  at  the  death  of  his  father,  and  he  was  not 
inclined  to  learn  new  tricks,"  said  Flint.  "  He  is 
intensely  patriotic,  and  said  that  he  was  willing 
to  give  himself  and  all  his  property  for  the  salva- 
tion of  his  country.  He  had  endeavored  to  obtain 
a  position  as  captain's  clerk,  or  something  of  that 
sort,  in  the  navy ;  but  failing  of  this,  he  had  been 
willing  to  go  to  the  war  as  a  scullion.  He  says  he 
shall  fight,  whatever  his  situation,  when  he  has  the 
opportunity;  and  that  is  all  I  know  about  him." 


CAPTAIN   ROWL.Y   PROTESTS. 


m 


A    DEAF    AND    DUMB    MYSTERY  51 

Christy  looked  on  the  floor,  and  seemed  to  be 
considering  the  facts  he  had  just  learned.  He 
had  twice  discovered  Mulgrum  at  the  door  of  his 
cabin,  though  his  presence  there  had  been  satisfac- 
torily explained ;  or  at  least  a  reason  had  been 
given.  This  man  had  been  brought  on  board  by 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Lillyworth,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  the  Gulf  for  duty,  and  was  on  board 
as  a  substitute  for  Mr.  Flint,  who  was  acting  in 
Christy's  place,  as  the  latter  was  in  that  of  Mr. 
Blowitt,  who  outranked  them  all.  Flint  had  not 
been  favorably  impressed  with  the  acting  second 
lieutenant,  and  he  had  not  hesitated  to  speak  his 
mind  in  regard  to  him  to  the  captain.  Though 
Christy  had  been  more  reserved  in  speech,  he  had 
the  feeling  that  Mr.  Lilhyworth  must  establish  a 
reputation  for  patriotism  and  fidelity  to  the 
government  before  he  could  trust  him  as  he  did 
the  first  lieutenant,  though  he  was  determined  to 
manifest  nothing  like  suspicion  in  regard  to  him. 

At  this  stage  of  the  war,  that  is  to  say  in  the 
earlier  years  of  it,  the  government  was  obliged  to 
accept  such  men  as  it  could  obtain  for  officers,  for 
the  number  in  demand  greatly  exceeded  the  supply 
of  regularly  educated  naval  officers.     There  were 


52  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

a  great  many  applicants  for  positions,  and  candi- 
dates were  examined  in  regard  to  their  profes- 
sional qualifications  rather  than  their  motives  for 
entering  the  service.  If  a  man  desired  to  enter 
the  army  or  the  navy,  the  simple  wish  was  re- 
garded as  a  sufficient  guaranty  of  his  patriotism, 
especially  in  connection  with  his  oath  of  allegiance. 
With  the  deaf  mute's  leaf  in  his  hand  Christy  was 
thinking1  over  this  matter  of  the  motives  of  officers. 
He  was  not  satisfied  in  regard  to  either  Lilly  worth 
or  Mulgrum,  and  besides  the  regular  quota  of 
officers  and  seamen  permanently  attached  to  the 
Bronx,  there  were  eighteen  seamen  and  petty 
officers  berthed  forward,  who  were  really  passen- 
gers, though  they  were  doing  duty. 

"Where  did  you  say  this  man  Mulgrum  was 
born,  Mr.  Flint  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  after  he  had 
mused  for  quite  a  time. 

"  In  Cherryfield,  Maine,"  replied  the  first  lieu- 
tenant ;  and  he  could  not  help  feeling  that  the 
commander  had  not  been  silent  so  long  for 
nothing'. 

"  You  are  a  Maine  man,  Flint :  were  you  ever 
in  this  town?  " 

"  I  have  been ;  I  taught   school  there  for   six 


A   DEAF    AND    DUMB    MYSTERY  53 

months ;  and  it  was  the  last  place  I  filled  before 
I  went  to  sea.1' 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  for  it  will  save  me  from 
looking  any  farther  for  the  man  I  want  just  now. 
If  this  deaf  mute  was  born  and  brought  up  in 
Cherryfield,  he  must  know  something  about  the 
place,"  added  Christy  as  he  touched  a  bell  on  his 
table,  to  which  Dave  instantly  responded. 

"  Do  you  know  Mulgrum,  Dave  ? "  asked  the 
captain. 

"  No,  sir ;  never  heard  of  him  before,"  replied 
the  steAvard. 

"  You  don't  know  him  !  The  man  who  has  been 
cleaning  the  brass  work  on  the  doors  ?  "  exclaimed 
Christy. 

"Oh!  Pink,  we  all  call  him,"  said  the  steward. 

"His  name  is  Pinkney  Mulgrum,"  Flint  ex- 
plained. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  know  him,  though  we  never  had 
any  long  talks  together,"  added  Dave  with  a  rich 
smile  on  his  face. 

"  Go  on  deck,  and  tell  Mulgrum  to  come  into 
my  cabin,"  said  Christy. 

"  If  I  tell  him  that,  he  won't  hear  me,"  suggested 
Dave. 


54  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Show  him  this  paper,"  interposed  the  first 
lieutenant,  handing  him  a  card  on  which  he  had 
written  the  order. 

Dave  left  the  cabin  to  deliver  the  message,  and 
the  captain  immediately  instructed  Flint  to  ques- 
tion the  man  in  regard  to  the  localities  and  other 
matters  in  Cherryfield,  suggesting  that  he  should 
conduct  his  examination  so  as  not  to  excite  any 
suspicion.  Pink  Mulgrum  appeared  promptly, 
and  was  placed  at  the  table  where  both  of  the 
officers  could  observe  his  expression.  Then  Flint 
began  to  write  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  and  passed  his 
first  question  to  the  man.  It  was :  "  Don't  you 
remember  me  ? "  Mulgrum  wrote  that  he  did 
not.  Then  the  inquisitor  asked  when  he  had  left 
Cherryfield  to  attend  the  school  at  Hartford ;  and 
the  date  he  gave  placed  him  there  at  the  very  time 
Avhen  Flint  had  been  the  master  of  the  school 
for  four  months.  On  the  question  of  locality,  he 
could  place  the  church,  the  schoolhouse  and  the 
hotel ;  and  he  seemed  to  have  no  further  knowl- 
edge of  the  town.  When  asked  where  his  father 
lived,  he  described  a  white  house  next  to  the 
church ;  but  Flint  knew  that  this  had  been  owned 
and  occupied  by  the  minister  for  many  years. 


A   DEAF    AND    DUMB    MYSTERY  55 

"  This  man  is  a  humbug,"  was  the  next  sen- 
tence the  first  lieutenant  wrote,  but  he  passed  it 
to  the  captain.  Christy  wrote  under  it :  "  Tell 
him  that  we  are  perfectly  satisfied  with  his  replies, 
and  thank  him  for  his  attendance ; "  which  was 
done  at  once,  and  the  captain  smiled  upon  him  as 
though  he  had  conducted  himself  with  distin- 
guished ability. 

"  Mulgrum  has  been  in  Cherryfield ;  but  he 
could  not  have  remained  there  more  than  a  day  or 
two,"  said  Flint,  when  the  door  had  elosed  behind 
the  deaf  mute. 

The  captain  made  a  gesture  to  impose  silence 
upon  his  companion. 

"  Mulgrum  is  all  right  in  every  respect,"  said 
he  in  a  loud  tone,  so  that  if  the  subject  of  the 
examination  had  stopped  at  the  keyhole  of  the 
door,  he  would  not  be  made  any  the  wiser  for 
what  he  heard  there. 

"  He  knows  Cherryfield  as  well  as  he  knows  the 
deck  of  the  Bronx^  and  as  you  say,  Captain  Pass- 
ford,  he  is  all  right  in  every  respect,"  added  the 
first  lieutenant  in  the  same  loud  tone.  "  Mulgrum 
is  a -well  educated  man,  captain,  and  you  will  have 
a  great  deal  of  writing  to  do :  I  suggest  that  you 


56  ON   THE  BLOCKADE 

bring  him  into  your  cabin,  and  make  him  your 
clerk." 

'•'  That  is  a  capital  idea,  Mr.  Flint,  and  I  shall 
consider  it,"  returned  the  commander,  making 
sure  that  the  man  at  the  door  should  hear  him, 
if  Mulgrum  lingered  there.  "  I  have  a  number  of 
letters  sent  over  from  England  relating  to  block- 
ade runners  that  I  wish  to  have  copied  for  the  use 
of  any  naval  officers  with  whom  I  may  fall  in ; 
and  I  have  not  the  time  to  do  it  myself." 

"  Mulgrum  writes  a  very  handsome  hand,  and  no 
one  could  do  the  work  any  better  than  he." 

Christy  thought  enough  had  been  said  to  satisfy 
the  curiosity  of  Mulgrum  if  he  was  still  active  in 
seeking  information,  and  both  of  the  officers  were 
silent.  The  captain  had  enough  to  think  of  to 
last  him  a  long  while.  The  result  of  the  inquiry 
into  the  auditory  and  vocal  powers  of  the  scullion, 
as  Flint  called  him,  had  convinced  him  that  the 
deaf  mute  was  a  fraud.  He  had  no  doubt  that  he 
could  both  speak  and  hear  as  well  as  the  rest  of 
the  ship's  company.  But  the  puzzling  question 
was  in  relation  to  the  reason  why  he  pretended  to 
be  deaf  and  dumb.  If  he  was  desirous  of  serving 
his  country  in  the  navy,  and   especially  in   the 


A    DEAF    AND    DUMB    MYSTERY  57 

Bronx,  it  was  not  necessary  to  pretend  to  be  deaf 
and  dumb  in  order  to  obtain  a  fighting  berth  on 
board  of  her.  It  looked  like  a  first  class  mystery 
to  the  young  commander  ,  but  he  was  satisfied 
that  the  presence  of  Mulgrum  meant  mischief. 
He  could  not  determine  at  once  what  it  was  best 
to  do  to  solve  the  mystery ;  but  he  decided  that 
the  most  extreme  watchfulness  was  required  of 
him  and  his  first  lieutenant.  This  was  all  he 
could  do,  and  he  touched  his  bell  again. 

"  Dave,"  said  he  when  the  cabin  steward  pre- 
sented himself  before  him,  "  go  on  deck  and  ask 
Mr.  Lillyworth  to  report  to  me  the  log  and  the 
weather." 

"  The  log  and  the  weather,  sir,"  replied  Dave, 
as  he  hastened  out  of  the  cabin. 

Christy  watched  him  closely  as  he  went  out  at 
the  door,  and  he  was  satisfied  that  Mulgrum  was 
not  in  the  passage,  if  he  had  stopped  there  at  all. 
His  present  purpose  was  to  disarm  all  the  suspi- 
cions of  the  subject  of  the  mystery,  but  he  would 
have  been  glad  to  know  whether  or  not  the  man 
had  lingered  at  the  door  to  hear  what  was  said  in 
regard  to  him.  He  was  not  anxious  in  regard  to 
the  weather,  or  even  the  log,  and  he  sent  Dave  on 


58  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

his  errand  in  order  to  make  sure  that  Mulgrum 
was  not  still  doing  duty  as  a  listener. 

"Wind  south  south  west,  log  last  time  fifteen 
knots  and  a  half,"  reported  Dave,  as  he  came  in 
after  knocking  at  the  door. 

"I  can  not  imagine  why  that  man  pretendedfto 
be  deaf  and  dumb  in  order  to  get  a  position  on 
board  of  the  Bronx.  He  is  plainly  a  fraud,"  said 
the  captain  when  Dave  had  gone  back  to  his  work 
in  the  state  room. 

"  I  don't  believe  he  pretended  to  be  a  deaf  mute 
in  order  to  get  a  place  on  board,  for  that  would 
ordinarily  be  enough  to  prevent  him  from  getting 
it.  I  should  put  it  that  he  had  obtained  his  place 
in  spite  of  being  deaf  and  dumb.  But  the  mys- 
tery exists  just  the  same." 

The  captain  went  on  deck,  and  the  first  lieuten- 
ant to  the  ward  room. 


A    CONFIDENTIAL    STEWARD  59 


CHAPTER  V 

A   CONFIDENTIAL   STEWARD 

The  wind  still  came  from  the  southward,  and 
it  was  very  light.  The  sea  was  comparatively 
smooth,  and  the  Bronx  continued  on  her  course. 
At  the  last  bi-hourly  heaving  of  the  log,  she  was 
making  sixteen  knots  an  hour.  The  captain  went 
into  the  engine  room,  where  he  found  Mr.  Gawl, 
one  of  the  chief's  two  assistants,  on  duty.  This 
officer  informed  him  that  no  effort  had  been  made 
to  increase  the  speed  of  the  steamer,  and  that  she 
was  under  no  strain  whatever.  The  engine  had 
been  thoroughly  overhauled,  as  well  as  every 
other  part  of  the  vessel,  and  every  improvement 
that  talent  and  experience  suggested  had  been 
made.  It  now  appeared  that  the  engine  had  been 
greatly  benefited  by  whatever  changes  had  been 
made.  These  improvements  had  been  explained 
to  the  commander  by  Mr.  Sampson  the  day  be- 
fore ;  but  Christy  had  not  given  much  attention 


60  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

to  the  matter,  for  he  preferred  to  let  the  speed  of 
the  vessel  speak  for  itself  ;  and  this  was  what  it 
appeared  to  be  doing  at  the  present  time. 

Christy  walked  the  deck  for  some  time,  observ- 
ing everything  that  presented  itself,  and  taking 
especial  notice  of  the  working  of  the  vessel. 
Though  he  made  no  claims  to  any  superior  skill, 
he  was  really  an  expert,  and  the  many  days  and 
months  he  had  passed  in  the  companionship  of 
Paul  Vapoor  in  studying  the  movements  of 
engines  and  hulls  had  made  him  wiser  and  more 
skilful  than  it  had  even  been  suspected  that  he 
was.  He  was  fully  competent  for  the  position  he 
was  temporarily  filling;  but  he  had  made  himself 
so  by  years  of  study  and  practice. 

Christy  had  not  yet'  obtained  all  the  experience 
he  required  as  a  naval  officer,  and  he  was  fully 
aware  that  this  was  what  he  needed  to  enable  him 
to  discharge  his  duty  in  the  best  manner.  He 
was  in  command  of  a  small  steamer,  a  position  of 
responsibility  which  he  had  not  coveted  in  this 
early  stage  of  his  career,  though  it  was  only  for  a 
week  or  less,  as  the  present  speed  of  the  Bronx 
indicated.  He  had  ambition  enough  to  hope  that 
he  should   be  able  to  distinguish  himself  in  this 


A   CONFIDENTIAL   STEWARD  61 

brief  period,  for  it  might  be  years  before  he  again 
obtained  such  an  opportunity.  His  youth  was 
against  him,  and  he  was  aware  that  he  had  been 
selected  to  take  the  steamer  to  the  Gulf  because 
there  was  a  scarcity  of  officers  of  the  proper 
grade,  and  his  rank  gave  him  the  position. 

The  motion  of  the  Bronx  exactly  suited  him, 
and  he  judged  that  in  a  heavy  sea  she  would 
behave  very  well.  He  had  made  one  voyage  in 
her  from  the  Gulf  to  New  York,  and  the  steamer 
had  done  very  well,  though  she  had  been  greatly 
improved  at  the  navy  yard.  Certainly  her  motion 
was  better,  and  the  connection  between  the  engine 
and  the  inert  material  of  which  the  steamer  was 
constructed,  seemed  to  be  made  without  any 
straining  or  jerking.  There  was  very  little  shak- 
ing and  trembling  as  the  powerful  machinery 
drove  her  ahead  over  the  quiet  sea.  There  had 
been  no  very  severe  weather  during  his  first 
cruise  in  the  Bronx,  and  she  had  not  been  tested 
in  a  storm  under  his  management,  though  she 
had  doubtless  encountered  severe  gales  in  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  in  a  breezy  season  of  the  year. 

While  Christy  was  planking  the  deck,  four 
bells  were  struck  on  the  ship's  great  bell  on  the 


02  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

top-gallant  forecastle.  It  was  the  beginning  of 
the  second  dog  watch,  or  six  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  the  watch  which  had  been  on  duty 
since  four  o'clock  was  relieved.  Mr.  Flint 
ascended  the  bridge,  and  took  the  place  of  Mr. 
Lillyworth,  the  second  lieutenant.  Under  this 
bridge  was  the  pilot-house,  and  in  spite  of  her 
small  size,  the  steamer  was  steered  by  steam. 
The  ship  had  been  at  sea  but  a  few  hours,  and 
the  crew  were  not  inclined  to  leave  the  deck. 
The  number  of  men  on  board  was  nearly  doubled 
by  the  addition  of  those  sent  down  to  fill  vacan- 
cies in  other  vessels  on  the  blockade.  Christy 
went  on  the  bridge  soon  after,  more  to  take  a 
survey  inboard  than  for  any  other  purpose. 

Mr.  Lillyworth  had  gone  aft,  but  when  he  met 
Mulgrum  coming  up  from  the  galley,  he  stopped 
and  looked  around  him.  With  the  exception  of 
himself  nearly  the  whole  ship's  company  were 
forward.  The  commander  watched  him  with 
interest  when  he  stopped  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
deaf  mute,  who  also  halted  in  the  presence  of  the 
second  lieutenant.  Then  they  walked  together 
towards  the  companion  way,  and  disappeared 
behind    the    nlainmast.     Christy    had    not   before 


A   CONFIDENTIAL   STEWARD  63 

noticed  any  intercourse  between  the  lieutenant 
and  the  scullion,  though  he  thought  it  a  little  odd 
that  "the  officer  should  set  the  man  at  work  clean- 
ing the  brasses  about  the  door  of  the  captain's 
cabin,  a  matter  that  belonged  to  the  steward's 
department.  He  had  learned  from  Flint  that 
Mulgrum  had  been  recommended  to  the  chief 
steward  by  Lilly  worth,  so  that  it  was  evident 
enough  that  they  had  been  acquainted  before 
either  of  them  came  on  board.  But  he  could  not 
see  them  behind  the  mast,  and  he  desired  very 
much  to  know  what  they  were  doing. 

Flint  had  taken  his  supper  before  he  went  on 
duty  on  the  bridge,  and  the  table  was  waiting  for 
the  other  ward  room  officers  who  had  just  been 
relieved.  It  was  time  for  Lillyworth  to  go  to  the 
meal,  but  he  did  not  go,  and  he  seemed  to  be 
otherwise  engaged.  After  a  while,  Christy  looked 
at  his  watch,  and  found  that  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
had  elapsed  since  the  second  lieutenant  had  left 
the  bridge,  and  he  had  spent  nearly  all  this  time 
abaft  the  mainmast  with  the  scullion.  The  com- 
mander had  become  absolutely  absorbed  in  his 
efforts  to  fathom  the  deaf  and  dumb  mystery,  and 
fortunately  there  was  nothing  else  to  occupy  his 


04:  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

attention,  for  Flint  had  drilled,  the  crew,  including 
the  men  for  other  vessels,  and  had  billeted  and 
stationed  them  during  the  several  days  he  had 
been  on  board.  Everything  was  working  as 
though  the  Bronx  had  been  at  sea  a  month 
instead  of  less  than  half  a  day. 

Christy  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  ascertain 
what,  if  anything,  was  passing  between  Lillyworth 
and  Mulgrum ;  but  he  could  see  no  way  to  obtain 
any  information  on  the  subject.  He  had  no  doubt 
he  was  watched  as  closely  as  he  was  watching  the 
second  lieutenant.  If  he  went  aft,  that  would  at 
once  end  the  conference,  if  one  was  in  progress. 
He  could  not  call  upon  a  seaman  to  report  on 
such  a  delicate  question  without  betraying  him- 
self, and  he  had  not  yet  learned  whom  to  trust  in 
such  a  matter,  and  it  was  hardly  proper  to  call 
upon  a  foremast  hand  to  watch  one  of  his  officers. 

The  only  person  on  board  besides  the  first  lieu- 
tenant in  whom  he  felt  that  he  could  repose  entiie 
confidence  was  Dave.  He  knew  him  thoroughly, 
and  his  color  was  almost  enough  to  guarantee  his 
loyalty  to  the  country  and  his  officers,  and 
especially  to  himself,  for  the  steward  possessed  a 
rather   extravagant    admiration   for   the   one  who 


A    CONFIDENTIAL   STEWARD  65 

had  "brought  him  out  of  bondage,"  as  he  ex- 
pressed it,  and  had  treated  him  like  a  gentleman 
from  first  to  last.  He  could  trust  Dave  even  on 
the  most  delicate  mission ;  but  Dave  was  attend- 
ing to  the  table  in  the  ward  room,  and  he  did  not 
care  to  call  him  from  his  duty. 

At  the  end  of  another  five  minutes,  Chris tj^  saw 
Mulgrum  come  from  abaft  the  mainmast,  and 
descend  the  ladder  to  the  galley.  He  saw  no 
more  of  Lillyworth,  and  he  concluded  that,  keep- 
ing himself  in  the  shadow  of  the  mast,  he  had 
gone  below.  He  remained  on  the  bridge  a  while 
longer  considering  what  he  should  do.  He  said 
nothing  to  Flint,  for  he  did  not  like  to  take  up 
the  attention  of  any  officer  on  duty.  The  com- 
mander thought  that  Dave  could  render  him  the 
assistance  he  required  better  than  any  other  person 
on  board,  for  being  only  a  steward  and  a. colored 
man  at  that,  less  notice  would  be  taken  of  him 
than  of  one  in  a  higher  position.  He  was  about 
to  descend  from  the  bridge  when  Flint  spoke  to 
him  in  regard  to  the  weather,  though  he  could 
have  guessed  to  a  point  what  the  captain  was 
thinking  about,  perhaps  because  the  same  subject 
occupied  his  own  thoughts. 


QQ  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"I  think  we  shall  have  a  change  of  weather 
before  morning,  Captain  Passford.  The  wind  is 
drawing  a  little  more  to  the  southward,  and  we 
are  likely  to  have  wind  and  rain,"  said  the  first 
lieutenant. 

"  Wind  and  rain  will  not  trouble  us,  and  I  am 
more  afraid  that  we  shall  be  bothered  with  fog  on 
this  cruise,"  added  Christy  as  he  descended  the 
ladder  to  the  main  deck. 

He  walked  about  the  deck  for  a  few  minutes, 
observing  the  various  occupations  of  the  men,  who 
Avere  generally  engaged  in  amusing  themselves,  or 
in  "  reeling  off  sea  yarns."  Then  he  went  Jbelow. 
At  the  foot  of  the  stairs  in  the  companion  way, 
the  door  of  the  ward  room  was  open,  and  he  saw 
that  Lillyworth  was  seated  at  the  table.  He  sat 
at  the  foot  of  it,  the  head  being  the  place  of  the 
first  lieutenant,  and  the  captain  could  see  only  his 
back.  He  was  slightly  bald  at  the  apex  of  his 
head,  for  he  was  an  older  man  than  either  the 
captain  or  the  first  lieutenant,  but  inferior  to  them 
in  rank,  though  all  of  them  were  masters,  and 
seniority  depended  upon  the  date  of  the  commis- 
sions ;  and  even  a  single  day  settled  the  degree  in 
these  days   of  multiplied  appointments.     Christy 


A   CONFIDENTIAL   STEWARD  G7 

went  into  his  cabin,  where  the  table  was  set  for 
his  own  supper. 

The  commander  looked  at  his  barometer,  and 
his  reading  of  it  assured  him  that  Flint  was  cor- 
rect in  regard  to  his  prognostics  of  the  weather. 
But  the  young  officer  had  faced  the  winter  gales 
of  the  Atlantic,  and  the  approach  of  any  ordinary 
storm  did  not  disturb  him  in  the  least  degree. 
On  the  contrary  he  rather  liked  a  lively  sea,  for 
it  was  less  monotonous  than  a  calm.  He  did  not 
brood  over  a  storm,  therefore,  but  continued  to 
consider  the  subject  which  had  so  deeply  interested 
him  since  he  discovered  Mulgrum  on  his  knees  at 
the  door,  with  a  rag  and  a  saucer  of  rottenstone  in 
his  hands.  He  had  a  curiosity  to  examine  the 
brass  knob  of  his  door  at  that  moment,  and  it  did 
not  appear  to  have  been  very  severely  rubbed. 

'*  Quarter  of  seven,  sir,"  said  Dave,  presenting 
himself  at  the  door  while  Christy  was  still  musing 
over  the  incidents  already  detailed. 

"  All  right,  Dave  ;  I  will  have  my  supper  now," 
replied  Christy,  indifferently,  for  though  he  was 
generally  blessed  with  a  good  appetite  the  mys- 
tery was  too  absorbing  to  permit  the  necessary 
duty  of  eating  to  drive  it  out  of  his  mind. 


68  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Dave  retired,  and  soon  brought  in  a  tray  from 
the  galley,  the  dishes  from  which  he  arranged  on 
the  table.  It  was  an  excellent  supper,  though  he 
had  not  given  any  especial  orders  in  regard  to  its 
preparation.  He  seated  himself  and  began  to  eat 
in  a  rather  mechanical  manner,  and  no  one  who 
saw  him  would  have  mistaken  him  for  an  epicure. 
Dave  stationed  himself  in  front  of  the  commander, 
so  that  he  was  between  the  table  and  the  door. 
He  watched  Christy,  keeping  his  eyes  fixed  on 
him  without  intermitting  his  gaze  for  a  single 
instant.  Once  in  a  while  he  tendered  a  dish  to 
him  at  the  table,  but  there  was  but  one  object  in 
existence  for  Christy  at  that  moment. 

uDave,"  said  the  captain,  after  he  had  disposed 
of  a  portion  of  his  supper. 

"Here,  sir,  on  duty,"  replied  the  steward. 

"  Open  the  door  behind  you,  quick  !  " 

Dave  obeyed  instantly,  and  threw  the  door  back 
so  that  it  was  wide  open,  though  he  seemed  to  bo 
amazed  at  the  strangeness  of  the  order. 

"  All  right,  Dave  ;  close  it,"  added  Christy, 
when  he  saw  there  was  no  one  in  the  passage  ; 
and  he  concluded  that  Mulgrum  was  not  likely 
to  be  practising  his  vocation  when  there  was  no 
one  in  the  cabin  but  himself  and  the  steward. 


A    CONFIDENTIAL    STEWARD  69 

Dave  obeyed  the  order  like  a  machine,  and  then 
renewed  his  gaze  at  the  commander. 

"  Are  you  a  Freemason,  Dave  ?  "  asked  Christy. 

"No,  sir,"  replied  the  steward  with  a  magnifi- 
cent smile. 

"  A  Knight  of  Pythias,  of  Pythagoras,  or  any- 
thing of  that  sort  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  nothing  of  the  sort." 

"  Then  you  can't  keep  a  secret?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  can.  If  I  have  a  secret  to  keep,  I 
will  give  the  whole  Alabama  River  to  any  one 
that  can  get  it  out  of  me." 

Christy  felt  sure  of  his  man  without  this 
protestation. 


70  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   VI 

A   MISSION   UP   THE   FOKEMAST 

Christy  spent  some  time  in  delivering  a  lecture 
on  naval  etiquette  to  his  single  auditor.  Probably 
lie  was  not  the  highest  authority  on  the  subject  of 
his  discourse ;  but  he  was  sufficiently  learned  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  present  occasion. 

"  You  say  you  can  keep  a  secret,  Dave  ?  "  con- 
tinued the  commander. 

"  I  don't  take  any  secrets  to  keep  from  every- 
body, Captain  Passford ;  and  I  don't  much  like  to 
carry  them  about  with  me,"  replied  the  steward, 
looking  a  little  more  grave  than  usual,  though  he 
still  wore  a  cheerful  smile. 

"  Then  you  don't  wish  me  to  confide  a  secret  to 
you?" 

"I  don't  say  that,  Captain  Passford.  I  don't 
want  any  man's  secrets,  and  I  don't  run  after 
them,  except  for  the  good  of  the  service.  I  was 
a  slave  once,  but  I  know  what  I  am  working  for 


A   MISSION   UP   THE   FOREMAST  71 

now.  If  you  have  a  secret  I  ought  to  know, 
Captain  Passford,  I  will  take  it  in  and  bury  it 
away  down  at  the  bottom  of  my  bosom  ;  and  I 
will  give  the  whole  state  of  Louisiana  to  any  one 
that  will  dig  it  out  of  me." 

"  That's  enough,  Dave ;  and  I  am  willing  to 
trust  you  without  any  oath  on  the  Bible,  and 
without  even  a  Quaker's  affirmation.  I  believe 
you  will  be  prudent,  discreet,  and  silent  for  my 
sake." 

"  Certainly  I  will  be  all  that,  Captain  Passford, 
for  I  think  you  are  a  bigger  man  than  Jeff  Davis," 
protested  Dave. 

"  That  is  because  you  do  not  know  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Confederate  States,  and  you  do  know 
me ;  but  Mr.  Davis  is  a  man  of  transcendent  abil- 
ity, and  I  am  only  sorry  that  he  is  engaged  in  a 
bad  cause,  though  he  believes  with  all  his  heart 
and  soul  that  it  is  a  good  cause." 

"  He  never  treated  me  like  a  gentleman,  as  you 
have,  sir." 

"And  he  never  treated  you  unkindly,  I  am  very 
sure." 

"  He  never  treated  me  any  way,  for  I  never  saw 
him ;  and  I  would  not  walk  a  hundred  miles  bare- 


72  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

footed  to  see  him,  either.  I  am  no  gentleman  or 
anything  of  that  sort,  Massa  —  Captain  Passf ord, 
but  if  I  ever  go  back  on  you  by  the  breadth  of  a 
hair,  then  the  Alabama  River  will  run  up  hill." 

"  I  am  satisfied  with  you,  Dave ;  and  here  is  my 
hand,"  added  Christy,  extending  it  to  the  steward, 
who  shook  it  warmly,  displaying  a  good  deal  of 
emotion  as  he  did  so.  "  Now,  Dave,  you  know 
Mulgrum,  or  Pink,  as  you  call  him  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  I  know  him  as  I  do  the  rest  of  the 
people  on  board ;  but  we  are  not  sworn  friends, 
yet,"  replied  Dave,  rather  puzzled  to  know  what 
duty  was  required  of  him  in  connection  with  the 
scullion. 

"You  know  him;  that  is  enough.  What  do 
you  think  of  him  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  had  any  long  talks  with  him,  sir, 
and  I  don't  know  what  to  think  of  him." 

"  You  know  that  he  "is  dumb  ?  " 
•  "  I  expect  he  is,  sir ;  but  he  never  said  anything 
to  me  about  it,"  replied  Dave.     "  He  never  told 
me  he  couldn't   speak,   and   I   never   heard   him 
speak  to  any  one  on  board." 

" Did  you  ever  speak  to  him? " 

"Yes,  sir;  I  spoke  to  him  when  he  first  came 


A   MISSION    UP   THE   FOREMAST  73 

on  board;  but  he  didn't  answer  me,  or  take  any 
notice  of  me  when  I  spoke  to  him,  and  I  got  tired 
of  it." 

"  Open  that  door  quickly,  Dave,"  said  the 
captain  suddenly. 

The  steward  promptly  obeyed  the  order,  and 
Christy  saw  that  there  was  no  one  in  the  passage. 
He  told  his  companion  to  close  the  door,  and 
Dave  was  puzzled  to  know  what  this  movement 
could  mean. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Captain  Passford,  and  I 
have  no  right  to  ask  any  question ;  but  I  should 
like  to  know  why  you  make  me  open  that  door 
two  or  three  times  for  nothing,"  said  Dave,  in  the 
humblest  of  tones. 

"I  told  you  to  open  it  so  that  I  could  see  if 
there  was  anybody  at  the  door.  This  is  my  secret, 
Dave.  I  have  twice  found  Mulgrum  at  that  door 
while  I  was  talking  to  the  first  lieutenant.  He 
pretended  to  be  cleaning  the  brass  work." 

"  What  was  he  there  for  ?  When  a  man  is  as 
deaf  as  the  foremast  of  the  ship  what  would  he  be 
doing  at  the  door?  " 

"  He  was  down  on  his  knees,  and  his  ear  was 
not  a  great  way  from  the  keyhole  of  the  door." 


74  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  But  he  could  not  hear  anything." 

"  I  don't  know :  that  is  what  I  want  to  find  out. 
The  .mission  I  have  for  you,  Dave,  is  to  watch. 
Mulgrum.  In  a  word,  I  have  my  doubts  in  regard 
to  his  deafness  and  his  dumbness." 

"You  don't  believe  he  is  deaf  and  dumb,  Cap- 
tain Passford !  "  exclaimed  the  steward,  opening 
his  eyes  very  wide,  and  looking  as  though  an 
earthquake  had  just  shaken  him  up. 

"I  don't  say  that,  my  man.  I  am  in  doubt. 
He  may  be  a  deaf  mute,  as  he  represents  himself 
to  be.  I  wish  you  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  he 
can  speak  and  hear.  You  are  a  shrewd  fellow, 
Dave,  I  discovered  some  time  ago  ;  in  fact  the 
first  time  I  ever  saw  you.  You  may  do  this  job 
in  any  manner  you  please ;  but  remember  that 
your  mission  is  my  secret,  and  you  must  not 
betray  it  to  Mulgrum,  or  to  any  other  person." 

"  Be  sure  I  won't  do  that,  Captain  Passford." 

"  If  you  obtain  any  satisfactory  information, 
convey  it  to  me  immediately.  You  must  be  very 
careful  not  to  let  any  one  suspect  that  you  are 
watching  him,  and  least  of  all  to  let  Mulgrum 
know  it.  Do  you  understand  me  perfectly, 
Dave?" 


A   MISSION    UP   THE   FOIJEMAST  75 

"  Yes,  sir ;  perfectly.  Nobody  takes  any  notice 
of  me  but  3^011,  and  it  won't  be  a  hard  job.  I 
think  I  can  manage  it  without  any  trouble.  I  am 
nothing  but  a  nigger,  and  of  no  account." 

"  I  have  chosen  you  for  this  mission  because 
you  can  do  it  better  than  any  other  person,  Dave. 
Don't  call  yourself  a  nigger ;  I  don't  like  the 
word,  and  you  are  ninety  degrees  in  the  shade 
above  the  lower  class  of  negroes  in  the  South." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  the  steward  with  an 
expansive  smile. 

"  There  is  one  thing  I  wish  you  to  understand 
particularly,  Dave.  I  have  not  set  you  to  watch 
any  officer  of  the  ship,"  said  Christy  impressively. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  reckon  Pink  Mulgrum  is  not  an 
officer  any  more  than  I   am." 

"  But  you  may  discover,  if  you  find  that  Mul- 
grum can  speak  and  hear,  that  he  is  talking  to  an 
officer,"  added  the  captain  in  a  low  tone. 

"  What  officer,  Captain  Passford  ?  "  asked  the 
steward,  opening  his  eyes  to  their  utmost  capac- 
ity, and  looking  as  bewildered  as  an  owl  in  the 
gaslight. 

"  I  repeat  that  I  do  not  set  you  to  watch  an 
officer;  and  I  leave  it  to  you  to  ascertain  with 


76  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

whom  Mulgrum  has  any  talk,  if  with  any  one. 
Now  I  warn  you  that,  if  you  accomplish  anything 
in  this  mission,  you  will  do  it  at  night  and  not  in 
the  daytime.  That  is  all  that  need  be  said  at  the 
present  time,  Dave,  and  you  will  attend  to  your 
duty  as  usual.  If  you  lose  much  sleep,  you  may 
make  it  up  in  the  forenoon  watch." 

"I  don't  care  for  the  sleep,  Captain  Passford, 
and  I  can  keep  awake  all  night." 

"  One  thing  more,  Dave  ;  between  eight  bells 
and  eight  bells  to-night,  during  the  first  watch, 
you  may  get  at  something,  but  you  must  keep 
out  of  sight  as  much  as  you  can,"  added  Christy, 
as  he  rose  from  his  armchair,  and  went  into  his 
state  room. 

Dave  busied  himself  in  clearing  the  table,  but 
he  was  in  a  very  thoughtful  mood  all  the  time. 
Loading  up  his  tray  with  dishes,  he  carried  them 
through  the  steerage  to  the  galley,  where  he 
found  Mulgrum  engaged  in  washing  those  from 
the  ward  room,  which  he  had  brought  out  some 
time  before.  The  steward  looked  at  the  deaf  mute 
with  more  interest  than  he  had  regarded  him  be- 
fore. He  was  a  supernumerary  on  board,  and  any 
one  who  had  anything  to  do  called  Pink  to  do  it. 


A    MISSION    UP    THE    FOREMAST  77 

Another  waiter  was  greatly  needed,  and  Mr. 
Nawood,  the  chief  steward,  had  engaged  one,  but 
he  had  failed  to  come  on  board  before  the  steamer 
sailed.  Pink  had  been  pressed  into  service  for 
the  steerage ;  but  he  was  of  little  use,  and  the 
work  seemed  very  distasteful,  if  not  disgusting,  to 
him.  He  carried  in  the  food,  but  that  was  about 
all  he  was  good  for. 

Dave  watched  him  for  a  few  minutes  as  he 
washed  and  wiped  the  dishes,  and  saw  that  he 
was  very  awkward  at  it ;  it  was  plain  to  him  that 
he  was  not  an  experienced  hand  at  the  business. 
But  he  was  doing  the  steward's  work,  and  Dave 
took  hold  and  helped  him.  Pink  was  as  solemn 
as  an  owl,  and  did  his  work  in  a  very  mechanical 
manner,  and  without  the  slightest  interest  in  it. 
The  cabin  steward  had  a  mission,  and  he  was 
profoundly  interested  in  its  execution. 

By  the  side  of  the  galley,  or  range,  was  a  sink 
at  which  they  were  at  work.  Dave  thought  he 
might  as  well  begin  then  and  there  to  test  the 
hearing  powers  of  his  companion.  Picking  up 
one  of  the  large  blowers  of  the  range,  he  placed 
himself  so  that  Pink  could  not  see  what  he  was 
about,  and  then  banged  the  sheet  iron  against  the 


78  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

cast  iron  of  the  great  stove.  He  kept  his  eye 
fixed  all  the  time  on  the  scullion.  The  noise 
was  enough  for  the  big  midship  gun  on  deck,  or 
even  for  a  small  earthquake.  Pink  was  evidently 
startled  by  the  prodigious  sound,  and  turned  to- 
wards the  steward,  who  was  satisfied  that  he  had 
heard  it ;  but  the  fellow  was  cunning,  and  realiz- 
ing that  he  had  committed  himself,  he  picked  up 
one  of  his  feet,  and  began  to  rub  it  as  though  he 
had  been  hit  by  the  falling  blower.  At  the  same 
time,  he  pretended  to  be  very  angry,  and  demon- 
strated very  earnestly  against  his  companion. 

Dave  felt  that  lie  had  made  a  point,  and  he  did 
.not  carry  his  investigation  of  the  auditory  capac- 
ity of  the  scullion  any  farther  that  night.  He 
finished  his  work  below,  and  then  went  on  deck. 
He  lounged  about  in  a  very  careless  manner  till 
eight  bells  were  struck.  Mr.  Flint  on  the  bridge 
was  relieved  by  Mr.  Lillyworth,  and  the  port 
watch  came  on  duty  for  the  next  four  hours,  or 
until  midnight.  This  was  the  time  the  captain 
had  indicated  to  Dave  as  a  favorable  one  for  the 
discharge  of  his  special  duty.  Taking  advantage 
of  the  absence  of  any  person  from  the  vicinity  of 
the  foremast,  he  adroitly  curled  himself  up  in  the 


A   MISSION   UP  THE   FOREMAST  id 

folds  of  the  foresail,  which  was  brailed  up  to  the 
mast.  He  had  his  head  in  such  a  position  that 
he  could  see  without  being  seen  by  any  casual 
passer-by. 

He  waited  in  this  position  over  an  hour,  and 
during  that  time  Pink  went  back  and  forth  sev- 
eral times,  and  seemed  to  be  looking  up  at  the 
bridge,  which  was  just  forward  of  the  foremast. 
On  the  top-gallant  forecastle  were  two  men  on  the 
lookout;  in  the  waist  was  a  quartermaster,  who 
was  doing  the  duty  that  belonged  to  the  third 
lieutenant,  if  the  scarcity  of  officers  had  permitted 
the  Bronx  to  have  one.  The  body  of  the  port 
watch  were  spinning  yarns  on  the  forecastle,  and 
none  of  them  were  very  near  the  foremast.  After 
a  while,  as  Pink  was  approaching  the  forecastle, 
Dave  saw  the  second  lieutenant  gesticulating  to 
him  very  earnestly  to  come  on  the  bridge.  The 
supernumerary  ascended  the  ladder,  and  the  offi- 
cer set  him  at  work  to  lace  on  the  sailcloth  to  the 
railing  -of  the  bridge,  to  shelter  those  on  duty 
there  from  the  force  of  the  sea  blast. 

Dave  listened  with  all  his  ears  for  any  sound 
from  the  bridge  ;  but  he  soon  realized  that  if  there 
was  any,  he  was  too  far  off  to  hear  it.     With  the 


80  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

aid  of  the  lashings  of  the  foresail,  he  succeeded 
in  climbing  up  on  the  mast  to  a  point  on  a  level 
with  the  bridge,  and  at  the  same  time  to  make  the 
mast  conceal  him  from  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Lilly  worth 
and  the  scullion.  The  latter  pretended  to  be  at 
work,  and  occasionally  the  second  lieutenant 
"  jawed "  at  him  for  his  clumsiness  in  lacing  the 
sailcloth.  Between  these  growls,  they  spoke  to- 
gether in  a  low  tone,  but  Dave  was  near  enough 
to  hear  what  they  said.  Though  he  had  never 
heard  the  voice  of  Pink  Mulgrum  before,  he  knew 
that  of  the  second  lieutenant,  and  he  was  in  no 
danger  of  confounding  the  two.  Pink  used  excel- 
lent language,  as  the  steward  was  capable  of  judg- 
ing, and  it  was  plain  enough  that  he  was  not  what 
he  had  appeared  to  be. 


LILI/i'WORTH    AND    MULGRUM   ON  THE   BRIDGE. 


AN    INTERVIEW    ON    THE    BRIDGE  81 


CHAPTER   VII 

AN    INTERVIEW    ON   THE   BRIDGE 

Although  Mr.  Lillyworth  knew  very  well  that 
Pink  Mulgrum  was  deaf  and  dumb,  he  "  jawed  " 
at  him  as  though  his  hearing  was  as  perfect  as  his 
own,  doubtless  forgetting  for  the  moment  his 
infirmity. 

"  Draw  up  the  bight,  and  lace  it  tighter,"  ex- 
claimed the  second  lieutenant,  intermixing  an 
expletive  at  each  end  of  the  sentence.  "  Oh,  you 
can't  hear  me  ! "  he  shouted,  as  though  the  fact 
that  the  scullion  could  not  hear  him  had  suddenly 
come  to  his  mind.  "  Well,  it  is  a  nice  thing  to 
talk  to  a  deaf  man !  " 

Dave  could  see  that  Mulgrum  also  seemed  to 
forget  that  his  ears  were  closed  to  all  sounds,  for 
he  redoubled  his  efforts  to  haul  the  screen  into 
its  place. 

"  I  could  not  hear  anything  that  was  of  any 
consecpuence,"  the  steward  heard  the  deaf  mute 
say  in  a  lower  tone  than  his  companion  used. 


82  ON   THE  BLOCKADE 

"  Couldn't  you  hear  anything  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Lillyworth,  making  a  spring  at  the  canvas  as 
though  he  was  disgusted  with  the  operations  of 
his  companion  on  the  bridge. 

"  Only  what  I  have  just  told  you,"  replied 
Mulgrum. 

"  But  you  were  at  the  door  when  the  captain 
and  the  first  lieutenant  were  talking  together  in 
the  cabin,"  continued  the  officer  in  a  low  tone. 

"  But  they  were  talking  about  me,  as  I  told 
you  before,"  answered  the  scullion,  rather  im- 
patiently, as  though  he  too  had  a  mind  of  his  own. 

"  Wasn't  anything  said  about  the  operations  of 
the  future  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Lillyworth. 

"  Not  a  word ;  but  you  know  as  well  as  I  do 
that  the  captain  has  sealed  orders  which  he  will 
not  see  before  to-morrow.  I  heard  him  tell  his 
father  that  he  was  to  open  the  envelope  in  latitude 
38,"  said  the  supernumerary. 

"  You  must  contrive  some  way  to  hear  the 
captain  when  he  reads  his  orders,"  continued  the 
second  lieutenant.  "  He  will  be  likely  to  have 
Mr.  Flint  with  him  when  he  opens  the  envelope." 

"It  will  be  difficult,"  replied  Mulgrum,  and 
Dave  could  imagine  that  he  saw  him  shake  his 


AN    INTERVIEW    ON   THE   BRIDGE  83 

head.  "  The  captain  has  found  me  cleaning  the 
brasses  on  his  door  twice,  and  it  will  hardly  do  to 
be  found  at  the  door  again." 

"  Isn't  there  any  place  in  his  cabin  where  you 
can  conceal  yourself?"  inquired  Mr.  Lillyworth. 

"I  don't  know  of  any  place,  unless  it  is  his 
state  room;  and  the  cabin  steward  has  been  at 
work  there  almost  all  the  time  since  we  got  under 
way.  Dave  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  confidant  of  the 
captain,"  suggested  Mulgrum ;  and  it  looked  as 
though  the  deaf  mute  had  not  held  his  tongue  and 
kept  his  ears  open  for  nothing;  but  the  steward 
could  not  understand  how  he  had  got  this  idea 
into  his  head,  for  he  had  received  his  instructions 
while  the  commander  was  at  supper,  and  he  was 
sure,  as  he  had  thrown  the  door  open  several  times, 
that  the  scullion  was  not  on  the  other  side  of  it. 

"  A  nigger  for  his  confidant ! "  exclained  the 
second  lieutenant,  as  he  interpolated  a  little  jaw 
for  the  benefit  of  the  seamen  and  petty  officers 
within  earshot  of  him.  "  What  can  we  expect 
when  a  mere  boy  is  put  in  command  of  a  steamer 
like  this  one  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  need  not  complain,  Pawcett,  for 
you  are  on   board  of  this   vessel,   and  so   am    I, 


84  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

because  she  is  under  the  command  of  a  boy.  But 
he  is  a  tremendous  smart  boy,  and  he  is  older  than 
many  men  of  double  his  age,"  added  Mulgrum. 

Dave  realized  that  the  supernumerary  was  well 
informed  in  regard  to  current  history  in  connection 
with  naval  matters,  and  he  was  willing  to  believe 
that  he  was  quite  as  shrewd  as  the  officer  at  his 
side. 

"  The  boy  is  well  enough,  though  he  is  abomi- 
nably overrated,  as  you  will  see  before  I  have 
done  with  him,"  said  Mr.  Lillyworth  contemptu- 
ously. "  It  is  galling  for  one  who  has  seen  some 
service  to  touch  his  cap  to  this  boy  and  call  him 
captain." 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  forgetting  yourself,  Paw- 
cett  —  " 

"Don't  mention  my  name  on  board  of  this 
vessel,  Hungerford,"  interposed  the  officer. 

"And  you  will  not  mention  mine,"  added  the 
scullion  promptly.  "  We  are  both  careless  in  this 
matter,  and  we  must  do  better.  I  think  I  ought 
to  caution  you  not  to  neglect  any  outside  tokens 
of  respect  to  the  captain.  You  can  have  your 
own  opinions,  but  I  think  you  do  not  treat  him 
with  sufficient  deference." 


AN    INTERVIEW    ON   THE   BRIDGE  85 

"  Perhaps  I  don't,  for  it  is  not  an  easy  thing  to 
do,"  replied  the  second  lieutenant.  "But  I  think 
the  captain  has  no  cause  to  complain  of  me.  We 
must  find  out  something  about  these  orders,  and 
you  must  be  on  the  lookout  for  yonr  chances  at 
meridian  to-morrow.  If  you  can  stow  yourself 
away  under  the  captain's  berth  in  his  state  room, 
you  may  be  able  to  hear  him  read  them  to  the  first 
lieutenant,  as  he  will  be  sure  to  do." 

"  I  don't  believe  in  doing  that,"  replied  Mul- 
grum.  "  If  I  am  discovered,  no  explanation  could 
be  made  as  to  why  I  was  concealed  there." 

"  But  we  must  take  some  risks,"  persisted  Mr. 
Lilly  worth.  "After  what  you  told  me  in  the  first 
of  our  talk,  it  may  not  be  necessary  to  conceal 
yourself.  I  shall  say  something  to  the  captain  on 
the  subject  at  which  you  hinted  as  soon  as  I  get  a 
chance.  You  may  be  in  a  situation  to  hear  all 
that  is  said  without  danger." 

Dave  wondered  what  could  be  meant  by  this 
remark,  for  he  had  not  heard  the  conversation 
between  the  captain  and  the  first  lieutenant  which 
was  intended  as  a  "  blind  "  to  the  listener,  known 
to  be  at  the  door. 

"  I  am  willing  to  take  any  risk  that  will  not 


86  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

ruin  our  enterprise,"  Mulgrum  responded  to  the 
remark  of  liis  companion. 

"  At  noon  to-morrow  I  shall  come  on  deck  in 
charge,  and  the  first  lieutenant  will  be  relieved, 
so  that  he  will  be  at  liberty  to  visit  the  captain  in 
his  cabin.  That  will  be  your  time,  and  you  must 
improve  it." 

"  But  I  shall  meet  you  again  to-morrow,  and  I 
will  look  about  me,  and  see  what  can  be  done," 
said  Mulgrum,  as  he  made  a  new  demonstration 
at  the  canvas  screen. 

"  I  will  keep  my  eyes  open,  and  you  must  do 
the  same.  How  is  it  with  our  men  forward  ?  " 
asked  the  officer. 

"I  have  had  no  chance  to  speak  with  any  of 
them,  for  they  are  all  the  time  in  the  midst  of  the 
rest  of  the  seamen,"  replied  the  deaf  mute.  "But 
I  have  no  doubt  they  are  all  right." 

"But  you  must  have  some  way  to  communicate 
with  them,  or  they  might  as  well  be  on  shore. 
As  there  are  six  of  them,  I  should  say  you  might 
get  a  chance  to  speak  to  one  of  them  whenever 
you  desire." 

"  I  have  had  nothing  to  say  to  them  so  far,  and 
I  have  not  considered  the  matter  of  communicat- 
ing- with  them." 


AN   INTERVIEW   ON   THE   BRIDGE  87 

"  It  is  time  to  know  how  you  can  do  so." 

"  I  can  manage  it  in  some  way  when  the  time 
comes,"  replied  Mulgrum  confidently.  "  I  am 
sure  the  captain  and  the  first  lieutenant  have  no 
suspicion  that  I  am  not  what  I  seem  to  be.  The 
executive  officer  put  me  through  a  full  examina- 
tion, especially  in  regard  to  Cherryfield,  where  I 
told  him  I  used  to  live.  I  came  off  with  flying 
colors,  and  I  am  certain  that  I  am  all  right  now." 

Dave  knew  nothing  about  the  examination  to 
which  Mr.  Flint  had  subjected  the  deaf  mute.  It 
is  evident  that  Mulgrum  took  an  entirely  different 
view  of  the  result  of  the  test  from  that  taken  by 
the  .examiner  and  the  captain ;  but  both  of  the 
latter  had  taken  extreme  pains  to  conceal  their 
•opinion  from  the  subject  of  the  test. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  not  say  anything  more 
to-night,  and  you  have  been  on  the  bridge  long 
enough,"  said  Mr.  Lilly  worth,  walking  to  the 
windward  end  of  the  bridge,  and  peering  out  into 
the  gloom  of  the  night. 

He  had  hardly  looked  in  the  direction  of  the 
deaf  mute  while  he  was  on  the  bridge,  but  had 
busied  himself  with  the  lashing  of  the  screen,  and 
done  everything  he  could  to  make  it  appear  that 


88  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

lie  was  not  talking  to  his  companion.  Mulgrum, 
overhauling  the  screen  as  he  proceeded,  made  his 
way  to  the  steps  by  the  side  of  the  foremast.  But 
he  did  not  go  down,  as  he  had  evidently  intended 
to  do,  and  waited  till  the  second  lieutenant  came 
over  to  the  lee  side  of  the  vesssel. 

"  Perhaps  the  man  at  the  wheel  has  been 
listening  to  our  conversation,"  said  the  deaf 
mute,  plainly  alarmed  at  the  situation.  "  I  did 
not  think  of  him." 

"  I  did,"  replied  Mr.  Lillyworth ;  "  but  it  is  all 
right,  and  the  man  at  the  wheel  is  Spoors,  one  of 
our  number." 

"  All  right,"  added  Mulgrum,  and  he  descended 
the  steps. 

Dave  kept  his  place  in  the  folds  of  the  foresail, 
and  hardly  breathed  as  the  scullion  passed  him. 
With  the  greatest  caution,  and  after  he  had 
satisfied  himself  that  no  one  was  near  enough  to 
see  him,  he  descended  to  the  deck.  lie  wandered 
about  for  a  while,  and  saw  that  the  supernumerary 
went  to  the  galley,  where,  in  the  scarcity  of  ac- 
commodations for  the  extra  persons  on  board,  he 
was  obliged  to  sleep  on  the  floor.  He  was  not 
likely  to   extend  his   operations  any  farther    that 


AN    INTERVIEW    ON    THE    BRIDGE  89 

night,  and  Dave  went  to  the  companion  way, 
descended  the  steps,  aiid  knocked  at  the  door  of 
the  captain's  cabin. 

"  Come  in,"  called  the  occupant,  who  had  been 
writing  at  his  desk  in  the  state  room,  though  the 
door  was  open. 

Dave  presented  himself  before  the  commander, 
who  was  very  glad  to  see  him.  Christy  wiped 
the  perspiration  from  his  forehead,  for  he  had 
evidently  been  working  very  hard  all  the  evening. 
Four  bells  had  just  struck,  indicating  that  it  was 
ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Flint's  prediction  in 
regard  to  the  weather  seemed  to  be  in  the  way  of 
fulfilment,  for  the  Bronx  had  been  leaping  mildly 
on  a  head  sea  for  the  last  hour.  But  everything 
was  going  well,  and  the  motion  of  the  vessel  was 
as  satisfactory  to  the  commander  in  rough  water 
as  it  had  been  in  a  smooth  sea. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Dave,"  said  Christy,  as 
the  steward  presented  himself  at  the  door  of  the 
state  room.  "I  suppose  from  your  coming  to- 
night that  you  have  something  to  tell  me." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  have  ;  and  I  will  give  you  the 
whole  Gulf  of  Mexico  if  it  isn't  a  big  thing," 
replied    Dave    with    his    most    expansive    smile. 


90  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

"  You  done  get  into  a  hornet's  nest,  Captain 
Passford." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  I  hope,"  replied  Christy, 
laughing. 

"  Bad  enough,  sir,  at  any  rate,"  added  Dave. 
"  Pink  Mulgrum  has  been  talking  and  listening 
to  the  second  lieutenant  all  the  evening." 

"  Then  he  is  not  a  deaf  mute,  I  take  it." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it ;  he  can  talk  faster  than  I  can, 
and  he  knows  all  about  his  grammar  and  diction- 
ary. You  have  just  eight  traitors  on  board  of 
the  Bronx,  Captain  Passford,"  said  Dave  very 
impressively. 

"Only  eight?" 

"  That's  all  I  know  about ;  and  I  think  that  is 
enough  for  one  cruise  in  a  Yankee  ship." 

u  Eight  will  do  very  well,  Dave  ;  but  who  are 
they  ?  "  asked  the  captain  with  interest. 

"  I  know  jnst  three  of  them.  One  is  the  second 
lieutenant ;  Pink  Mulgrum  is  another,  and  Spoors, 
one  of  the  quartermasters,  is  the  third.  They 
didn't  mention  any  more  of  them." 

"  All  right,  Dave ;  now  sit  down  on  that  stool, 
and  tell  me  the  whole  story,"  said  Christy,  point- 
ing to  the  seat. 


AN    INTERVIEW   ON   THE   BRIDGE  91 

The  steward,  believing  that  he  had  done  a  "  big 
thing  "  that  evening,  did  not  hesitate  to  seat  him- 
self in  the  presence  of  the  commander,  and  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  relate  all  that  he  had  done,  and 
all  that  he  had  seen  and  heard  on  the  bridge. 
When  Dave  had  finished  his  story,  and  answered 
the  questions  put  to  him,  the  commander  was 
willing  to  believe  that  he  had  clone  a  big  thing ; 
though  he  said  nothing  beyond  a  few  words  of 
general  commendation  to  the  steward.  Then  he 
dismissed  him,  and,  locking  his  desk,  he  went  on 
deck.  After  taking  an  observation  of  the  weather 
he  mounted  the  bridge. 


92  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

I 

CHAPTER   VIII 

IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE 

"Good  evening,  Mr.  Lilly-worth,"  said  Captain 
Passford,  when  he  reached  the  bridge. 

"  Good  evening,  Captain  Passford,"  replied  the 
second  lieutenant,  as  he  touched  his  cap  to  his 
superior,  galling  as  the  act  was,  according  to  his 
own  statement. 

"  It  looks  as  though  we  should  have  some 
wind,"  added  the  captain. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  we  shall  have  a  nasty  time  of  it 
across  the  Gnlf  Stream." 

"  If  there  is  any  decided  change  in  the  weather 
during  your  watch,  you  will  oblige  me  by  having 
me  called,"  added  the  captain  ;  "I  think  I  am  tired 
enough  to  turn  in,  for  I  have  been  very  busy  all 
the  evening,  copying  letters  and  papers.  I  think 
I  need  a  clerk  almost  as  much  as  the  captain  of  a 
frigate." 

"I  think  you  ought  to  have  one,  sir,"  added 


IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE  93 

Mr.  Lillyworth,  manifesting  a  deep  interest  in  this 
matter. 

"As  the  matter  now  stands  I  have  to  use  a 
g6od  deal  of  my  time  in  copying  documents.  By 
the  way,  if  we  fall  in  with  any  United  States  man- 
of-war,  I  wish  to  communicate  with  her." 

"  Of  course  I  shall  report  to  you,  sir,  if  one 
comes  in  sight  during  my  watch,"  replied  the 
second  lieutenant,  with  a  greater  manifestation  of 
zeal  than  he  had  before  displayed  in  his  relations 
with  his  commander,  evidently  profiting  by  the 
suggestion  made  to  him  by  Pink  Mulgrum. 

"  But  I  hope  we  shall  not  fall  in  with  one  before 
day  after  tomorrow,  for  I  have  not  copied  all  the 
letters  I  desire  to  use  if  such  an  occasion  offers," 
said  Captain  Passford,  who  was  really  playing  out 
a  baited  hook  for  the  benefit  of  the  second  lieuten- 
ant, in  regard  to  whose  intentions  he  had  no 
doubt  since  the  revelations  of  the  steward. 

"  By  the  way,  Captain  Passford,  what  you  say 
in  regard  to  the  amount  of  writing  imposed  upon 
you  reminds  me  that  there  is  a  man  on  board  who 
might  afford  you  some  relief  from  this  drudgery. 
Possibly  you  may  have  noticed  this  man,  though 
he  is  doing  duty  as  a  mere  scullion." 


91  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Do  you  mean  the  man  I  have  seen  cleaning 
brass  work  about  the  cabin  ?  "  asked  Christy,  glad 
to  have  the  other  take  hold  of  the  baited  hook. 

"  That  is  the  one ;  he  is  deaf  and  dumb,  but  he 
has  received  a  good  education,  and  writes  a  good 
hand,  and  is  rapid  about  it,"  added  the  second 
lieutenant,  with  some  eagerness  in  his  manner, 
though  he  tried  to  conceal  it. 

"  But  my  writing  is  of  a  confidential  nature," 
replied  the  captain. 

"  I  have  known  this  man,  whose  name  is  Pink 
M nigrum,  for  some  time.  He  is  deaf  and  dumb, 
and  you  must  have  noticed  him." 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  I  have  seen  him,  and  he  had  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Flint  in  my  presence.  I  ob- 
served that  he  wrote  a  good  hand,  and  wrote  very 
rapidly." 

"  I  am  very  confident  that  you  can  trust  him 
with  your  papers,  Captain  Passford.  He  could 
not  go  into  the  service  as  a  soldier  or  a  sailor  on 
account  of  his  infirmity ;  but  he  desired  to  do 
something  for  his  country.  He  was  determined 
to  go  to  the  war,  as  he  called  it,  in  any  capacity, 
even  if  it  was  as  a  scullion.  He  wrote  me  a  letter 
to  this  effect,  and  Mr.  Nawood  consented  to  take 


IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE  95 

him  as  a  man  of  all  work.  If  he  ever  gets  into 
an  action,  you  will  find  that  he  is  a  fighting 
character." 

"  That  is  the  kind  of  men  we  want,  and  at  the 
present  time,  when  we  are  hardly  in  a  fighting 
latitude,  perhaps  I  can  use  him  as  a  copyist,  if  he 
will  agree  to  make  no  use  whatever  of  any  infor- 
mation he  may  obtain  in  that  capacity.  I  will 
speak  to  Mr.  Nawood  about  the  matter." 

"  Thank  you,  Captain  Passford.  Mulgrum  is  a 
very  worthy  man,  patriotic  in  every  fibre  of  his 
frame,  and  in  every  drop  of  his  blood.  I  should 
be  glad  to  obtain  some  permanent  occupation  for 
him  in  the  service  of  his  country,  for  nothing  else 
will  suit  him  in  the  present  exciting  times.  Per- 
haps when  you  have  tested  his  qualifications,  this 
will  make  an  opening  for  him." 

"  I  will  consider  the  subject  tomorrow,"  said 
Christy,  as  he  descended  from  the  bridge. 

The  commander  was  satisfied  that  the  portion  of 
the  conversation  which  had  taken  place  between 
the  aspirant  for  the  position  of  captain's  clerk 
and  the  second  lieutenant  and  which  had  been  fin- 
ished before  the  steward  had  reached  his  perch  on 
the  foremast,  related  to  this  matter.    Mulgrum  had 


96  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

heard  the  conversation  between  the  first  lieuten- 
ant and  himself,  which  was  intended  to  blind  the 
listener,  and  he  had  reported  it  to  his  confederate. 
It  was  only  another  confirmation,  if  any  were 
needed,  in  regard  to  the  character  of  the  con- 
sjirators. 

Christy  had  no  doubt  in  regard  to  the  disloyalty 
of  these  two  men;  but  nothing  in  respect  to  their 
ultimate  intentions  had  yet  been  revealed.  They 
had  brought  six  seamen  on  board  with  them,  and 
they  appeared  to  have  influence  enough  in  some 
quarter  to  have  had  these  men  drafted  into  the 
Bronx.  Eight  men,  even  if  two  of  them  were 
officers,  was  an  insignificant  force,  though  he  was 
willing  to  believe  that  they  intended  to  obtain 
possession  of  the  vessel  in  some  manner.  The 
captain  returned  to  his  cabin,  and  resumed  his 
work  in  the  state  room. 

Though  Christy  had  spent  several  hours  at  his 
desk,  he  had  really  produced  but  a  single  letter, 
and  had  not  yet  finished  it.  When  he  heard  eight 
bells  strike,  he  left  his  state  room,  and  seated  him- 
self at  the  table  in  the  middle  of  his  cabin.  The 
door  was  open  into  the  companion  way.  Mr. 
Flint  presently  appeared,   and  went  on  deck   to 


IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE  97 

relieve  the  second  lieutenant,  who  came  below  a 
few  minutes  later,  though  the  captain  did  not 
allow  himself  to  be  seen  by  him.  Then  he  closed 
the  cabin  door,  and  turned  in,  for  he  began  to 
realize  that  he  needed  some  rest.  He  went  to 
sleep  at  once,  and  he  did  not  wake  till  four  bells 
struck  in  the  morning.  The  Bronx  was  pitching 
heavily,  though  she  still  maintained  her  reputation 
a i  an  easy-going  ship  in  spite  of  the  head  sea.  He 
dressed  himself,  and  seated  himself  at  his  desk  at 
once,  devoting  himself  to  the  letter  upon  which  he 
h  id  been  engaged  the  evening  before.  .  The  second 
lieutenant  was  on  duty  at  this  time,  and  the  first 
was  doubtless  asleep  in  his  berth,  but  he  had  been 
below  six  hours  during  the  night,  and,  calling 
Dave  with  his  bell,  he  sent  him  for  Mr.  Flint, 
who  presented  himself  a  few  minutes  later. 

"Good  morning,  Captain  Passford;  you  have 
turned  out  early,  sir,"  said  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Not  very  early,  and  I  am  sorry  to  wake  you 
so  soon.  1  did  not  turn  in  till  after  you  had  gone 
on  deck  to  take  the  midwatch.  I  have  been  very 
busy  since  we  parted,  and  I  need  your  advice  and 
assistance,"  replied  the  commander.  "  I  have  got 
at  something." 


98  ON  THE  BLOCKADE 

"Indeed!  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  added  Mr. 
Flint. 

Without  the  loss  of  any  time,  the  captain  called 
Dave,  who  was  at  work  in  the  ward  room,  and 
told  him  to  see  that  no  one  came  near  the  door  of 
his  cabin.  The  steward  understood  him  perfectly, 
and  Christy  resumed  his  place  at  the  table  with 
the  executive  officer,  and  proceeded  to  detail  to 
him  as  briefly  as  he  could  all  the  information  he 
had  obtained  through  Dave,  and  the  manner  of 
obtaining  it.  It  required  some  time  to  do  this, 
and  the  first  lieutenant  was  intensely  interested  in 
the  narrative. 

"  I  am  not  greatly  surprised  so  far  as  Lilly  worth 
is  concerned,  for  there  has  been  something  about 
him  that  I  could  not  fathom  since  both  of  us  came 
on  board,"  said  Mr.  Flint. 

"  Of  course  these  men  are  on  board  for  a  pur- 
pose, though  I  acknowledge  that  I  cannot  fathom 
this  purpose,  unless  it  be  treason  in  a  general 
sense ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  they  have 
some  specific  object,"  added  the  captain.  "  Of 
course  you  will  be  willing  to  believe  that  both  of 
these  men  are  sailing  under  false  colors." 

"  Undoubtedly.     It  has  occurred  to  me  that  the 


IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE  99 

second  lieutenant  invented  the  name  that  repre- 
sents him  on  the  ship's  books.  Lillyworth  is  a 
little  strained :  if  he  had  called  himself  Smith  or 
Brown,  it  would  have  been  less  suspicious." 

"  In  the  conversation  to  which  Dave  listened  on 
the  bridge,  both  of  them  blundered,  and  let  out 
their  real  names,  though  each  of  them  reproved 
the  other  for  doing  so.  The  second  lieutenant's 
real  name  is  Pawcett,  and  that  of  the  deaf  mute  is 
Hungerford." 

"  The  last  is  decidedly  a  southern  name,  and 
the  other  may  be  for  aught  I  know.  Hungerford, 
Hungerford,"  said  Mr.  Flint,  repeating  the  name 
several  times.  "  It  means  something  to  me,  but  I 
can't  make  it  out  yet." 

The  first  lieutenant  cudgelled  his  brains  for  a 
minute  or  two  as  though  he  was  trying  to  connect 
the  name  with  some  event  in  the  past.  The  cap- 
tain waited  for  him  to  sound  his  memory ;  but  it 
was  done  in  vain ;  Flint  could  not  place  him.  He 
was  confident,  however,  that  the  connection  would 
be  made  in  his  mind  at  some  other  moment. 

"  The  interesting  question  to  us  just  now  is  to 
determine  why  these  men,  eight  in  number,  are 
on  board  of  the  Bronx  at  all,  and  why  they  are  on 


100  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

board  at  the  present  time,"  said  the  captain.  "  I 
happen  to  know  that  Lilly  worth  was  offered  a  better 
position  than  the  one  he  now  fills  temporarily ;  but 
my  father  says  he  insisted  on  going  in  the  Bronx." 

"  Certainly  he  is  not  here  on  a  fool's  errand. 
He  has  business  on  board  of  this  particular 
steamer,"  replied  Flint,  speaking  out  of  his 
musing  mind.  "  Ah  !  now  I  have  it !  "  he  sud- 
denly exclaimed.  "  Hungerford  was  the  execu- 
tive officer  of  the  Killbright,  or  the  Yazoo,  as  they 
called  her  afterwards.  I  had  a  very  slight  inkling 
that  I  had  seen  the  face  of  the  deaf  mute  before ; 
but  he  has  shaved  off  his  beard,  and  stained  his 
face,  so  that  it  is  no  wonder  I  did  not  identify 
him;  but  the  name  satisfies  me  that  he  was  the 
first  officer  of  the  Yazoo." 

"  That  means  then  that  he  is  a  regular  officer  of 
the  Confederate  navy,"  suggested  the  captain ; 
""and  probably  Lilly  worth  is  also.  The  only 
other  name  Dave  was  able  to  obtain  was  that  of 
Spoors,  one  of  the  quartermasters ;  and  very 
likely  he  is  also  another." 

tw  We  have  almost  a  double  crew  on  board,  Cap- 
tain Passford,  and  what  can  eight  men  do  to 
capture  this  vessel  ?  "  asked  Flint. 


IMPORTANT   INFORMATION,    IF   TRUE         101 

"  I  don"t  know  what  they  intend  to  do,  and  I 
must  give  it  up.  Now  I  want  to  read  a  letter  to 
you  that  I  have  written ;  and  you  can  tell  me 
what  you  think  of  it."  The  commander  then  read 
as  follows  from  the  sheet  in  his  hand,  upon  which 
appealed  no  end  of  changes  and  corrections  : 

' '  To  the  Commander  of  any  United  States  Ship 
of  War,  Sir  :  —  The  undersigned,  master  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  in  temporary  command  of  the  United  States 
Steamer  Bronx,  bound  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  respectfully 
informs  you  that  he  has  information,  just  received,  of  the 
approach  to  the  coast  of  the  southern  states  of  two  steamers, 
the  Scotian  and  the  Arran,  believed  to  be  fitted  out  as ' 
cruisers  for  the  Confederate  Navy.  They  will  be  due  in 
these  waters  about  March  17.  They  are  of  about  five  hun- 
dred tons  each.  A  letter  from  the  confidential  agent  of  my 
father,  Captain  Horatio  Passford,  an  agent  in  whom  he 
has  perfect  confidence,  both  on  account  of  his  loyalty  to  his 
country  undivided,  and  because  of  his  skill  as  a*  ship- 
master, contains  this  statement,  which  is  submitted  to  you 
for  your  guidance:  "I  have  put  twelve  loyal  American 
seamen,  with  an  officer,  on  board  of  each  of  the  steamers 
mentioned  above ;  and  they  comprise  about  one-half  of  the 
crew  of  each  vessel ;  and  they  will  take  possession  of  each 
of  the  two  steamers  when  supported  by  any  United  States 
man-of-war.     Warnock.' 

Respectfully  yours, 

CHRISTOPHER  PASSFORD, 

Master  Commanding." 


102  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  I  beg  your  .pardon,  Captain  Passford,  but 
what  under  the  canopy  is  that  letter  for  ?  "  asked 
Flint,  not  a  little  excited. 

"  It  is  for  Pink  Mulgrum  to  copy,"  replied  the 
captain.  "  That  is  all  the  use  I  intend  to  make 
of  it." 

Flint  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  laughed 
heartily,  and  the  commander  could  not  help  join- 
ing- him. 


A   VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S   CLERK  103 


CHAPTER   IX 

A  VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S   CLERK 

Mr.  Flint  was  really  amused  at  the  plan  of  the 
commander  of  the  Bronx,  as  indicated  in  the  letter 
he  had  just  read,  and  he  was  not  laughing  out  of 
mere  compliment  to  his  superior  officer,  as  some 
subordinates  feel  obliged  to  do  even  when  they 
feel  more  like  weeping.  Perhaps  no  one  knew 
Christy  Passford  so  well  as  his  executive  officer, 
not  even  his  own  father,  for  Flint  had  been  with 
him  in  the  most  difficult  and  trying  ordeals  of  his 
life.  He  had  been  the  young  leader's  second  in 
command  in  the  capture  of  the  Teaser,  whose  cabin 
they  now  occupied,  and  they  had  been  prisoners 
together.  He  had  been  amazed  at  his  young  com- 
panion's audacity,  but  he  had  always  justified  his 
action  in  the  end.  They  had  become  excellent 
friends  as  well  as  associates  in  the  navy,  and 
there  was  a  hearty  sympathy  between  them. 

Christy  laughed  almost  in  spite  of  himself,  for. 


104  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

he  had  been  giving  very  serious  attention  to  the 
situation  on  board  of  the  Bronx.  In  the  ship's 
company  were  at  least  two  officers  on  the  other 
side  of  the  great  question  of  the  day,  both  of  them 
doubtless  men  of  great  experience  in  their  profes- 
sion, more  mature  in  years  than  their  opponent  on 
this  chess-board  of  fate,  and  they  had  come  on 
board  of  the  steamer  to  accomplish  some  important 
purpose.  The  game  at  which  they  were  engaged 
had  already  become  quite  exciting,  especially  as 
it  looked  as  if  the  final  result  was  to  be  deter- 
mined by  strategy  rather  than  hard  fighting,  for 
Pawcett  and  Hungerford  could  hardly  expect  to 
capture  the  Bronx  with  only  a  force  of  eight 
men. 

"Mulgrum  is  to  copy  this  letter,"  said  Flint, 
suppressing  his  laughter. 

"  I  have  written  the  letter  in  order  to  have 
something  for  him  to  copy,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  give  him  and  his  confederate  something  to 
think  about,"  replied  Christy ;  and  he  could 
hardly  help  chuckling  when  he  thought  of  the 
effect  the  contents  of  the  letter  would  produce  in 
the  minds  of  those  for  whom  the  missive  was 
really  intended. 


A   VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S    CLERK  105 

"  Do  you  think  they  will  swallow  this  fiction, 
Captain  Passford  ?  "  asked  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Why  shouldn't  they  swallow  it,  hook,  bait, 
and  sinker  ?  They  are  Confederate  agents  be- 
yond the  possibility  of  a  doubt ;  and  they  are 
looking  for  a  ship  in  which  they  intend  to  ravage 
the  commerce  of  the  United  States,"  replied 
Christy ;  and  the  question  had  done  something 
to  stimulate  his  reasoning  powers.  "  They  want 
a  vessel,  and  tire  Bronx  would  suit  them  very 
well." 

"  But  they  will  not  attempt  to  capture  her 
under  present  circumstances,  I  am  very  confi- 
dent. They  know  that  we  have  about  twenty 
seamen  extra  on  board." 

','  They  know  that  certainly ;  but  possibly  they 

know  some  things  in  this  connection  that  we  do 

not  know,"  added  Christy,  as  he  put  his  hand  on 

his  forehead,  and  leaned  over  the  table,  as  though 

his  mind  were  strongly  exercised  by  some  serious 
I 

question  he  was  unable  to  answer  satisfactorily  to 
himself.- 

"  What  can  they  know  that  we  don't  know  in 
regard  to  this  vessel?"  demanded  Flint,  looking 
quite  as  serious  as  the  commander. 


106  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Whether  our  extra  men  are  loyal  or  not,"  an- 
swered Christy,  dropping  his  hand,  and  looking 
his  companion  full  in  the  face. 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  any  doubt  in  regard  to 
them  ?  " 

"  I  confess  that  I  have  not  had  a  doubt  till  this 
moment,"  said  the  captain,  wiping  the  perspira- 
tion from  his  brow,  for  the  terrible  possibility 
that  any  considerable  portion  of  the  extra  men 
were  in  the  employ  of  the  two  Confederates  had 
almost  overcome  him. 

For  a-  few  moments  he  was  silent  as  he  thought 
of  this  tremendous  idea.  It  was  appalling  to 
think  of  going  into  action  with  the  Scotian  or  the 
Arran,  or  both  of  them,  and  have  a  part  of  his 
own  force  turn  against  him  on  his  own  deck. 
This  was  possible,  but  he  could  hardly  believe  it 
was  probable.  Dave  had  reported  very  faithfully 
to  him  all  the  details  of  the  conversation  between 
the  Confederates,  and  they  had  claimed  only  six 
men.  If  they  had  any  hold  on  the  extra  men  on 
board,  they  would  have  been  likely  to  say  so,  or 
at  least  to  speak  more  indefinitely  than  they  had 
of  their  expectations. 

"  Have  you  any  friends    on  board,   Mr.   Flint, 


A  VOLUNTEER  CAPTAIN 's  CLERK     107 

among  the  crew  ? "  asked  Christy  suddenly,  as 
though  a  solution  of  the  difficult  question  of  the 
loyalty  of  the  men  had  suggested  itself  to  him. 

"  I  have  at  least  half  a  dozen  whom  I  worked 
hard  to  have  drafted  into  the  Bronx,  for  I  know 
that  they  are  good  and  true  men,  though  they  may 
not  be  able  to  pass  the  technical  examination  of 
the  naval  officers,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant 
promptly.  "I  can  trust  every  one  of  them  as 
far  as  I  could  trust  myself.  One  of  them  was  the 
mate  of  my  vessel  at  the  time  I  sold  her,  and  he 
has  since  been  in  command  of  her." 

"  Who  is  he  ?  " 

"  His  name  is  Baskirk  ;  and  he  is  a  quartermas- 
ter now.  I  wrote  to  him,  and  promised  to  do  the 
best  I  could  to  advance  him.  He  is  not  a  gradu- 
ate of  a  college,  but  he  is  a  well-informed  man, 
well  read,  sober,  honest,  and  a  man  of  good 
common-sense." 

"  The  others  ?  " 

"  McSpindle  was  a  classmate  of  mine  in  college, 
and  he  is  a  capital  fellow.  Unfortunately,  he  got 
into  the  habit  of  drinking  more  than  was  good  for 
him,  and  spoiled  his  immediate  future.  He  has 
made  two  foreign  voyages,  and  he  is  a  good  sea- 


108  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

man.  He  came  home  second  mate  of  an  India- 
man,  promoted  on  his  merit.  He  is  also  a  quar- 
termaster," said  Flint,  who  was  evidently  very 
deeply  interested  in  the  persons  he  described. 

"  Any  more  ?  " 

"  Luffard  is  a  quartermaster,  for  I  selected  the 
best  men  I  had  for  these  positions.  He  is  a  young 
fellow,  and  the  son  of  a  rich  man  in  Portland. 
He  is  a  regular  water  bird,  though  he  is  not  over 
eighteen  years  old." 

"  His  age  is  no  objection,"  added  Christy  with  a 
smile. 

"I  suppose  not;  but  I  have  taken  Luffard  on 
his  bright  promise  rather  than  for  anything  he  has 
ever  done,  though  I  have  seen  him  sail  a  forty- 
footer  in  a  race  and  win  the  first  prize.  The 
other  men  I  happen  to  think  of  just  now  have 
been  sailors  on  board  of  my  coaster.  They  are 
good  men,  and  I  can  vouch  for  their  loyalty, 
though  not  for  their  education.  They  are  all 
petty  officers." 

"  I  have  a  mission  for  your  men,  to  be  under- 
taken at  once,  and  I  shall  be  likely  to  want  the 
first  three  you  named  for  important  positions,  if 
my  orders   do   not  fetter    me    too   closely,"    said 


A    VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S   CLERK  109 

Christy.  "As  the  matter  stands  just  now,  Mr. 
Flint,  it  would  hardly  be  expedient  for  us  to 
capture  a  schooner  running  the  blockade  for  the 
want  of  an  officer  to  act  as  prize  master." 

"  The  three  quartermasters  I  named  are  compe- 
tent for  this  duty,  for  they  are  navigators,  and  all 
of  them  have  handled  a  vessel." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it ;  we  are  better  off  than  I 
supposed  we  were.  My  father  told  me  that 
several  vessels  had  been  sent  to  the  South  short 
of  officers,  and  we  are  no  worse  off  than  some 
others,  though  what  you  say  makes  us  all  right." 

"  I  can  find  three  officers  on  board  who  are  as 
competent  as  I  am,  though  that  is  not  sa}ring 
much,"  added  Flint. 

"  I  can  ask  no  better  officers,  then.  But  to 
return  to  this  letter.  I  have  spent  a  considerable 
part  of  my  time  at  Bonnydale  in  talking  with 
my  father.  He  is  in  the  confidence  of  the  naval 
department." 

"  He  ought  to  be,  for  he  gave  to  the  navy  one 
of  its  best  steamers,  to  say  the  least." 

"  I  don't  want  to  brag  of  my  father,"  suggested 
Christy,  laughing ;  "  I  only  wanted  to  show  that 
he  is  posted.     Coining  to  the  point  at  once,  put- 


110  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

ting  this  and  that  together  of  what  I  learned  on 
shore,  and  of  what  I  have  discovered  on  board  of 
the  Bronx,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  Pawcett 
and  Hungerford  have  their  mission  on  board  of 
this  steamer  in  connection  with  the  Scotian  and 
the  Arran.  I  will  not  stop  now  to  explain  why  I 
have  this  idea,  for  I  shall  obtain  more  evidence  as 
we  proceed.  At  any  rate,  I  thought  I  would  put 
the  ghost  of  a  stumbling-block  in  the  path  of 
these  conspirators  ;  and  this  is  the  reason  why  I 
have  put  thirteen  American  seamen  on  board  of 
each  of  the  expected  steamers.  If  my  conjectures 
are  wrong  the  stumbling-block  will  be  nothing 
but  a  ghost ;  if  I  am  right,  it  will  make  our  men 
somewhat  cautious  as  to  what  they  do  if  we  should 
be  so  fortunate  as  to  fall  in  with  the  two  vessels." 

"  I  understand  you  perfectly,  Captain  Passford. 
You  said  that  you  had  something  for  my  men  to 
do  at  once  ;  but  you  did  not  explain  what  this 
duty  was,"  said  Flint.  "  If  you  require  their 
services  at  once,  I  will  instruct  them." 

"  I  did  not  explain,  for  I  have  so  many  irons  in 
the  fire  that  I  am  afraid  I  am  getting  them  mixed, 
and  I  forgot  to  tell  you  what  they  were  to  do. 
But  I  shall  leave  the  details  to  be  settled  in  your 


A   VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S    CLERK  111 

• 

own  way.  I  want  to  know  who  are  loyal  men 
and  who  are  not.  There  are  at  least  six  men, 
according  to  the  report  of  Dave,  who  are  followers 
of  Pawcett  and  Himgerforcl.  We  don't  know  who 
they  are  ;  but  doubtless  they  have  been  selected  for 
their  shrewdness.  Probably  they  will  be  looking 
for  information  among  the  men.  Spoors  is  one 
of  theni,  and  by  watching  him  some  clew  may  be 
obtained  to  the  others." 

"  I  am  confident  my  men  can  find  out  all  you 
want  to  know,"  added  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  It  should  be  done  as  soon  as  possible,"  replied 
the  commander. 

"  Not  a  moment  shall  be  lost.  I  have  the  deck 
at  eight  this  morning,  and  one  of  the  quarter- 
masters will  be  at  the  wheel.  I  will  begin  with 
him." 

Mr.  Flint  left  the  cabin,  for  his  breakfast  was 
waiting  for  him  in  the  ward  room.  Christy 
walked  through  to  the  steerage,  where  he  found 
Mulgrum  attending  to  the  wants  of  the  warrant 
officers  as  well  as  he  could.  He  looked  at  this 
man  with  vastly  more  interest  than  before  he  had 
listened  to  Dave's  report.  It  was  easy  to  see  that 
he  was   not  an  ordinary  man  such  as  one  would 


112  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

find  in  menial  positions ;  but  it  was  not  prudent 
for  him  to  make  a  study  of  the  man,  for  his  quick 
eye  was  taking  in  everything  that  occurred  near 
him. 

Eight  bells  struck,  and  Mr.  Flint  hastened  on 
deck  to  relieve  the  second  lieutenant.  Christy 
took  his  morning  meal  at  a  later  hour,  and  when 
he  had  finished  it,  he  sent  for  Pink  M  nigrum.  Of 
course  the  conversation  had  to  be  written,  and  the 
captain  placed  the  scullion  opposite  himself  at  the 
table. 

"  I  learn  from  Mr.  Lillyworth  that  you  are  a 
good  writer,  and  that  you  are  well  educate^!," 
Christy  wrote  on  a  piece  of  paper,  passing  it  to 
the  deaf  mute. 

Mulgrum  read  the  sentence,  and  nodded  his 
head  with  something  like  a  smile.  If  Christy 
was  a  judge  of  his  expression,  he  was  certainly 
pleased,  evidently  to  find  that  his  confederate's 
plan  was  working  well. 

"  I  have  a  letter  of  which  I  desire  several  copies. 
Can  I  trust  you  to  make  these  copies  ?  "  Chridty 
wrote. 

The  man  read  and  nodded  his  head  eagerly. 

"  Will  you  promise  on  your  honor  as  a  man  that 


A   VOLUNTEER   CAPTAIN'S   CLERK  113 

3tou  will  not  reveal  what  you  write  to  any  person 
whatever?"  Christy  proceeded.  Mulgrum  read, 
and  nodded  his  head  earnestly  several  times. 

The  commander  procured  paper  and  other  writ- 
ing materials  for  him,  and  placed  them  before  him. 
Then  he  seated  himself  again  opposite  the  copyist, 
and  fixed  his  gaze  upon  him ;  unfolding  the  letter, 
of  which  he  had  made  a  fair  copy  himself,  he 
placed  it  under  the  eyes  of  the  deaf  mute.  Mul- 
grum had  retained  his  smile  till  tins  moment.  He 
had  arranged  his  paper  and  taken  a  pen  in  his 
hand.  Then  he  began  to  read;  as  he  proceeded 
the  smile  deserted  his  face.  He  was  plainly 
startled. 


114  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   X 

THE   UNEXPECTED   ORDERS 

Christy  sat  for  some  minutes  watching  the 
expression  of  Mulgrum  as  he  read  the  letter  he 
was  to  copy.  Like  a  careful  man,  he  was  evi- 
dently taking  a  glance  at  it  as  a  whole.  The 
interested  observer  could  see  that  he  lixed  his 
gaze  upon  the  last  part  of  the  letter,  the  extract 
from  the  missive  of  Warnock,  relating  to  the 
twelve  loyal  American  seamen  and  their  officer. 
In  fact,  he  seemed  to  be  paralyzed  by  what  he 
read. 

The  commander  was  satisfied  with  what  he  had 
seen,  and  he  rose  from  his  chair.  His  movement 
seemed  to  restore  the  self-possession  of  the  deaf 
mute,  and  he  began  to  write  very  rapidly.  Christy 
went  into  his  state  room,  where  he  kept  all  his 
important  papers  in  his  desk.  He  gave  himself 
up  to  a  consideration  of  the  situation  in  which  he 
was  placed.     He  had  partly  closed  the  door.     But 


THE   UNEXPECTED   ORDERS  115 

he  had  not  been  in  the  room  half  an  hour  before 
he  heard  a  knock. 

"  Come  in,"  said  he,  supposing  the  caller  was 
Dave. 

The  door  was  pushed  open,  and  M  nigrum  came 
in  with  his  tablet  in  his  hand.  The  deaf  mute 
had  certainly  heard  his  reply  to  the  knock,  for  he 
had  heeded  it  instantly,  and  he  smiled  at  the 
manner  in  which  the  conspirator  had  "given  him- 
self away."  The  scullion  presented  his  tablet  to 
the  captain  with  a  very  deferential  bow.. 

"  There  is  an  error  in  the  copy  of  the  letter  you 
gave  me  —  in  the  extract.  If  you  will  give  me 
the  original  letter  from  Mr.  Warnock,  I  will  cor- 
rect  the  mistake,"  Christy  read  on  the  tablet. 
It  was  not  impossible  that  he  had  made  a  mistake 
in  copying  his  letter ;  but  the  object  of  Mulgrum 
in  desiring  to  see  the  original  of  the  letter  from 
England  was  sufficiently  apparent.  "  Bring  me 
my  copy  of  the  letter,"  he  wrote  on  the  tablet, 
and  handed  it  back  to  the  owner. 

The  captain  took  from  his  desk  a  bundle  of 
letters  and  selected  one,  which  he  opened  and 
laid  on  "the  table,  though  not  where  his  copyist 
could  see  it.     Mulgrum  returned   and  presented 


116  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

him  the  letter,  pointing  out  the  mistake  he  had 
discovered.  He  looked  at  the  blind  letter,  and 
then  at  the  other.  There  was  certainly  an  error, 
for  his  letter  said  "and  they  comprise  about  one 
of  crew  of  each  vessel."  This  was  nonsense,  for 
he  had  accidentally  omitted  the  word  "  half  "  after 
"one."  He  inserted  the  word  above  the  line  in 
its  proper  place,  and  gave  it  back  to  the  copyist. 
It  was  clear  enough  that  Mulgrum  was  disap- 
pointed in  the  result  of  this  interview ;  but  he 
took  the  letter  and  returned  to  the  table. 

At  the  end  of  another  quarter  of  an  hour,  he 
brought  the  first  copy  of  the  letter.  He  knocked 
as  before,  and  though  Christy  told  him  in  a  loud 
tone  to  come  in,  he  did  not  do  so.  He  repeated 
the  words,  but  the  conspirator,  possibly  aware  of 
the  blunder  he  had  made  before,  did  not  make  it 
again.  Then  he  wrote  on  his  tablet,  after  the 
captain  Had  approved  his  work,  that  he  found 
the  table  very  uncomfortable  to  write  upon  while 
the  ship  was  pitching  so  smartly,  and  suggested 
that  he  should  be  allowed  to  make  the  rest  of  the 
copies  on  the  desk  in  the  state  room,  if  the  captain 
did  not  desire  to  use  it  himself.  Unfortunately 
for  the  writer,  he  did  desire  to  use  it  himself,  and 


THE    UNEXPECTED    ORDERS  117 

he  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  enterprise  of  the 
deaf  mute  in  lhs  attempt  to  obtain  an  opportunity 
to  forage  among  the  papers  in  his  drawers. 

Mulgrum  certainly  did  his  work  nicely  and 
expeditiously,  for  he  had  finished  it  at  three  bells 
in  the  forenoon  watch.  He  was  dismissed  then, 
for  his  presence  was  not  particularly  agreeable  to 
the  commander.  Christy  locked  his  desk  and  all 
the  drawers  that  contained  papers,  not  as  against 
a  thief  or  a  burglar,  but  against  one  who  would 
scorn  to  appropriate  anything  of  value  that  did 
not  bslong  to  him,  for  he  had  no  doubt  now  that 
Mulgrum  was  a  gentleman  who  was  trying  to 
serve  what  he  regarded  as  his  country,  though  it 
was  nothing  but  a  fraction  of  it. 

In  fact,  inheriting,  as  it  were,  the  broad  and 
generous  policy  of  his  father,  Christy  had  no 
personal  prejudices  against  this  enemy  of  his 
country,  and  he  felt  just  as  he  would  if  he  had 
been  sailing  a  boat  against  him,  or  playing  a  game 
of  whist  with  him.  He  was  determined  to  beat 
him  if  he  could.  But  he  was  not  satisfied  with 
locking  his  papers  up ;  he  called  Dave,  and  set 
him  as  a  watch  over  them.  If  the  conspirator 
overhauled  his  papers,  he  would  have  been  more 


118  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

concerned  about  what  he  did  not  find  than  in 
relation  to  what  he  did  find,  for  the  absence  of 
the  original  of  Warnock's  letter  would  go  far  to 
convince  him  that  the  extract  from  it  was  an 
invention. 

When  he  had  taken  these  precautions  he  went 
on  deck.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  moderate  gale ; 
but  the  Bronx  was  doing  exceedingly  well,  lifting 
herself  very  lightly  over  the  foaming  billows,  and 
conveying  to  one  walking  her  deck  the  impression 
of  solidity  and  strength.  The  captain  went  to  the 
bridge  after  a  while,  though  not  till  he  had  noticed 
that  something  was  going  on  among  the  crew; 
but  he  was  not  disposed  to  inquire  into  the 
matter,  possibly  regarding  it  as  beneath  the  dignity 
of  a  commander  to  do  so. 

Christy  mounted  the  steps  to  the  bridge.  This 
structure  is  hardly  a  man-of-war  appendage.  It 
had  been  there,  and  it  had  been  permitted  to 
remain.  The  first  shot  in  action  might  carry  it 
away,  and  this  contingency  had  been  provided  for, 
as  she  was  provided  with  a  duplicate  steam-steer- 
ing apparatus,  as  well  as  a  hand  wheel  at  the 
stern.  The  proper  position  of  the  officer  of  the 
watch,  who  is  practically  in  command  for  the  time 


THE   UNEXPECTED    ORDERS  119 

being,  is  on  the  quarter  deck,  though  he  is  re- 
quired during  his  watch  to  visit  all  parts  of  the 
deck.  On  board  of  the  Bronx  this  officer  was 
placed  on  the  bridge,  where  he  could  overlook  all 
parts  of  the  ship. 

The  first  lieutenant,  who  had  the  forenoon 
watch,  saluted  him,  but  there  was  nothing  of 
interest  to  report.  Christy  asked  the  meaning 
of  the  movement  he  had  observed  among  the  sea- 
men and  petty  officers,  and  was  told  that  Baskirk 
was  getting  up  an  association  on  board,  the  first 
requirement  to  which  was  for  all  who  wished  to 
become  members  to  sign  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  United  States  government,  "  as  represented 
by  and  presided  over  by  the  President  at  Wash- 
ington." It  was  to  be  a  secret  society,  and  Flint 
added  that  it  was  really  a  branch  of  the  Union 
League.  Christy  did  not  think  it  wise  to  ask  any 
more  questions,  but  he  understood  that  this  was 
really  a  movement  -to  ascertain  the  sentiments  of 
the  members  of  the  ship's  company  as  to  the  extent 
of  their  duty  in  supporting  the  government. 

"  Mr.  Flint,  I  am  not  a  little  dissatisfied  with 
the  manner  in  which  we  are  compelled  to  carry  on 
our  duty  on  board  of  the  Bronx,  though  no  blame 


120  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

is  to  be  attached  to  the  naval  department  on 
account  of  it,"  said  Christy,  after  he  had  walked 
the  bridge  for  a  time. 

"  Is  anything  going  wrong,  Captain  Passford  ?  " 
asked  the  first  lieutenant  anxiously. 

"  Oh,  no :  I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  any  one, 
and  least  of  all  with  you,"  added  the  captain 
promptly.  "  The  trouble  is  that  we  are  short  of 
officers,  though  all  that  could  be  spared  for  this 
vessel  were  sent  on  board  of  her.  As  the  matter 
now  stands,  Dr.  Spokeley  and  I  are  the  only 
idlers  on  board  in  the  cabin  and  ward  room.  The 
first  lieutenant  has  to  keep  a  watch,  which  is  not 
at  all  regular,  and  I  foresee  that  this  arrangement 
will  be  a  very  great  disadvantage  to  me.  It  could 
not  be  helped,  and  the  Bronx  was  evidently  re- 
garded as  of  no  great  importance,  for  she  is  little 
more  than  a  storeship  just  now,  though  the  flag 
officer  in  the  Gulf  will  doubtless  make  something 
more  of  her." 

"  We  have  a  big  crew  for  this  vessel,  but  we  are 
short  of  officers,"  added  Flint. 

"  From  the  best  calculations  I  have  been  able  to 
make,  with  my  father  to  help  me,  we  ought  to  fall 
in  with  the  Scotian  and  the  Arran  ;  and  in  view  of 


THE   UNEXPECTED    ORDERS  121 

such  an  event,  I  propose  to  prepare  for  the  emer- 
gency by  appointing  a  temporary  third  lieutenant." 

"  I  think  that  would  be  a  very  wise  step  to 
take,"  added  Flint  very  cordially. 

"  Of  the  men  you  mentioned  to  me,  who  is  the 
best  one  for  this  position  ?  "  asked  Christy. 

"  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  Baskirk  is 
the  right  man  for  the  position." 

"  Very  well ;  he  shall  be  appointed,"  added 
Christy,  as  he  left  the  bridge.  But  in  a  few 
minutes  he  returned,  and  handed  an  order  to  the 
first  lieutenant. 

Baskirk  was  sent  for,  and  the  captain  had  a 
long  talk  with  him.  He  found  that  the  candidate 
had  more  knowledge  of  naval  discipline  than  he 
had  supposed,  and  he  was  pleased  with  the  man. 
He  was  the  leading  quartermaster  in  rank,  having 
been  appointed  first.  After  another  talk  with 
Flint,  the  latter  gave  the  order  to  pass  the  word 
for  Mr.  Giblock,  who  was  the  acting  boatswain, 
though  in  rank  he  was  only  a  boatswain's  mate. 
He  was  directed  to  call  all  hands.  When  the 
ship's  company  were  assembled  on  the  forward 
deck,  though  this  is  not  the  usual  place  for  such  a 
gathering,  the  first  lieutenant  read  the  order  of 


122  *  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

the  commander  appointing  George  Baskirk  as 
acting  third  lieutenant  of  the  Bronx,  and  direct- 
ing that  he  should  be  respected  and  obeyed  as 
such.  A  smart  cheer  followed  the  announcement, 
though  the  second  lieutenant,  who  had  taken  a 
place  on  the  bridge,  looked  as  though  he  did  not 
approve  the  step  the  captain  had  taken.  The 
officer  of  the  deck  next  appointed  Thomas 
McLinn  a  quartermaster.  The  ship's  company 
were  then  dismissed. 

Just  before  noon  by  the  clocks,  Lieutenant 
Baskirk  appeared  on  the  bridge,  dressed  in  a 
brand-new  uniform,  with  a  sextant  in  his  hands. 
Christy,  who  did  not  depend  upon  his  pay  for  the 
extent  of  his  wardrobe,  had  not  less  than  three 
new  suits,  and  he  had  presented  one  of  them  to 
the  newly  appointed  officer,  for  there  was  no 
material  difference  in  the  size  of  the  two  persons. 
All  the  officers  who  kept  watches  were  required 
to  "take  the  sun,"  and  at  the  moment  the  merid- 
ian was  crossed,  the  captain  gave  the  word  to 
"make  it  noon,"  and  the  great  bell  sounded  out 
eight  bells.  The  officers  proceeded  to  figure  up 
the  results  of  the  observations.  The  longitude 
and  latitude  we're  entered  on  the  log  slate,  to  be 


THE    UNEXPECTED    OEDERS  123 

transferred  to  the  log  book.  Baskirk  was  directed 
to  take  the  starboard  watch,  and  he  was  formally 
presented  to  the  second  lieutenant  by  the  captain  ; 
and  whatever  his  feeling  or  opinions  in  regard  to 
the  step  which  had  just  been  taken,  he  accepted 
the  hand  of  the  new  officer  and  treated  him  with 
proper  courtesy. 

"Latitude  37°  52',"  said  the  captain  signifi- 
cantly, as  he  led  the  way  down  from  the  bridge, 
attended  by  the  first  and  third  lieutenants. 

They  followed  him  to  the  captain's  cabin. 
Christy  gave  them  seats  at  the  table,  and  then 
went  into  his  state  room  for  the  ponderous  en- 
velope which  contained  his  orders.  He  seated 
himself  between  his  two  officers  ;  but  before  he 
broke  the  great  seal,  he  discovered  Dave  in  the 
passageway  making  energetic  signs  to  him.  He 
hastened  to  him,  and  followed  him  into  the  ward 
room. 

"  Pink  is  under  your  berth  in  the  state  room," 
whispered  the  steward  in  the  most  impressive 
manner. 

"  All  right,  Dave ;  you  have  been  faithful  to 
your  duty,"  said  Christy,  as  he  hastened  back  into 
his  cabin. 


124  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Resuming  his  place  at  the  table,  he  broke  the 
seal  of  the  huge  envelope.  He  unfolded  the  in- 
closed instructions,  and  ran  over  them  without 
speaking  a  word. 

"  We  have  nothing  to  do  on  this  cruise,"'  said 
he,  apparently  taking  his  idea  from  the  paper  in 
his  hand.  "  I  will  read  the  material  parts  of  it," 
he  continued  in  a  much  louder  tone  than  the  size 
of  the  cabin  and  the  nearness  of  his  auditors 
seemed  to  demand.  "  '  You  will  proceed  with  all 
reasonable  despatch  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
report  to  the  flag  officer,  or  his  representative,  of 
the  eastern  Gulf  Squadron.  You  will  attempt 
no  operations  on  your  passage,  and  if  an  enemy 
appears  you  will  avoid  her  if  possible  with  honor.' 
That's  all,  gentlemen." 

The  two  listeners  seemed  to  be  utterly  con- 
founded. 


ANOTHER   HEADING   OE   SEALED    ORDERS      125 


CHAPTER   XI 

ANOTHER    READING   OF    THE   SEALED   ORDERS 

Christy  finished  the  reading  of  the  orders, 
folded  up  the  document,  and  put  it  in  his  pocket. 
But  he  immediately  took  it  out  and  unfolded  it 
again,  as  though  a  new  thought  had  struck  him. 
Flint  watched  him  with  the  utmost  attention,  and 
he  realized  that  the  bearing  of  the  commander  was 
quite  different  from  his  usual  manner;  but  he 
attributed  it  to  the  very  unexpected  nature  of  the 
orders  he  had  just  read.  He  was  distinctly  di- 
rected to  attempt  no  operations  on  the  passage, 
and  to  proceed  to  the  destination  indicated  with 
all  reasonable  despatch. 

The  wording  of  the  order  was  rather  peculiar, 
and  somewhat  clumsy,  Flint  thought ;  but  then 
he  had  been  a  schoolmaster,  and  perhaps  he  was 
inclined  to  be  over-critical.  But  the  meaning  of 
the  first  clause  could  not  be  mistaken,  however, 
though  the  word  "  operations  "  seemed  to  indicate 


126  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

something  on  a  grander  scale  and  more  prolonged 
than  an  encounter  with  a  blockade-runner,  or  a 
Confederate  man-of-war ;  something  in  the  nature 
of  a  campaign  on  shore,  or  a  thorough  scouring 
of  the  ocean  in  search  of  the  vessels  of  the  enemy. 

But  any  such  interpretation  of  the  oxder  was 
rendered  impossible  by  what  followed.  The  com- 
mander was  distinctly  forbidden  to  engage  the 
enemy  if  such  an  encounter  could  be  avoided 
"  with  honor."  The  first  lieutenant  knew  that  a 
combat  could  be  easily  avoided  simply  by  not  fol- 
lowing up  any  suspicious  craft,  unless  a  fully 
manned  and  armed  Confederate  cruiser  presented 
herself,  and  then  it  might  be  honorable  to  run 
away  from  her.  There  was  no  mistaking  the 
meaning  of  the  orders,  and  there  was  no  chance 
to  strain  a  point,  and  fall  upon  one  or  both  of 
the  expected  steamers. 

The  captain  was  strictly  enjoined  from  meddling 
with  them,  even  if  they  came  in  his  way.  If  they 
chased  the  Bronx,  she  would  be  justified  in  de- 
fending herself  under  the  orders ;  and  that  was 
the  most  she  could  do.  Flint  was  terribly  disap- 
pointed, and  he  regarded  the  commander  with  the 
deepest  interest  to  learn  what  interpretation  he 


ANOTHER    EEADING   OF   SEALED   OEDEKS      127 

would  give  to  the  orders,  though  there  seemed  to 
him  to  be  no  room  even  to  take  advantage  of  any 
fortunate  circumstance. 

The  appearance  of  the  commander  did  not  throw 
any  new  light  upon  the  contents  of  the  document. 
After  he  had  finished  the  reading  of  the  paper, 
Christy  sat  in  his  chair,  apparently  still  looking 
it  over,  as  though  he  did  not  fully  comprehend 
its  meaning.  But  he  made  no  sign  and  indulged 
in  no  remark  of  any  kind,  and  in  a  few  moments 
folded  the  order  and  put  it  back  into  his  pocket. 
Undoubtedly  he  was  thinking  very  energetically 
of  something,  but  he  did  not  reveal  the  nature  of 
his  reflections. 

Flint  concluded  that  he  was  utterly  dissatisfied 
with  his  orders,  and  even  regarded  them  as  a  slight 
upon  himself  as  the  commander  of  the  steamer  for 
the  time  being.  It  was  not  customary  to  direct 
captains  to  avoid  the  enemy  under  all  circum- 
stances that  were  likely  to  be  presented.  The 
first  lieutenant  began  to  realize  the  disadvantage 
of  sailing  with  a  captain  so  young,  for  it  looked 
to  him  as  though  the  strange  order  had  been  issued 
on  account  of  the  youth  of  the  commander. 

When   Christy   had    restored    the    paper  to  his 


128  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

pocket,  he  rose  from  his  seat,  and  thus  indicated 
that  there  was  to  be  no  consultation  with  the 
officers  in  regard  to  the  unusual  instructions. 
The  two  officers  rose  at  the  same  time,  and 
closely  observed  the  face  of  the  commander ;  but 
this  time  Flint  could  find  nothing  there  as  serious 
as  he  had  observed  before ;  in  fact,  there  was  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye  that  looked  promising. 

"  Gentlemen,  it  is  dinner  time  in  the  ward  room, 
and  I  will  not  detain  you  any  longer,"  said  Christy, 
as  politely  as  he  usually  spoke  to  his  officers, 
though  the  opera  of  "  Pinafore "  had  not  been 
written  at  that  time. 

Flint  bowed  to  his  captain,  and  left  the  cabin ; 
and  his  example  was  followed  by  Baskirk.  Christy 
certainly  did  not  look  as  though  he  were  embar- 
rassed by  his  orders,  or  as  if  he  were  disappointed 
at  the  restrictions  they  imposed  upon  him.  He 
left  the  cabin  so  that  Dave  could  prepare  his  table 
for  dinner  as  he  had  the  time  to  do  so.  He  left 
the  cabin ;  but  in  the  passage  he  called  the  steward 
to  him,  and  whispered  a  brief  sentence  to  him. 

He  then  ascended  to  the  deck,  and  proceeded  to 
take  a  "  constitutional "  on  the  windward  side  of 
the  quarter  deck.     The  gale  had  moderated  very 


ANOTHER    READING    OF   SEALED   ORDERS      129 

sensibly,  though  the  wind  was  still  from  the  south" 
ward.  The  sea  was  still  quite  rough,  though  it 
was  likely  to  subside  very  soon.  After  the 
captain  had  walked  as  long  as  he  cared  to  do,  he 
mounted  the  bridge. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  weather,  Mr.  Lilly- 
worth  ?  "  he  asked  of  the  officer  of  the  deck,  after 
he  had  politely  returned  his  salute. 

"  I  don't  believe  we  shall  have  any  more  wind 
today,"  replied  the  second  lieutenant,  as  he  looked 
wisely  at  the  weather  indications  the  sky  pre- 
sented. "  But  it  don't  look  much  like  fairing  off, 
and  I  shall  look  for  fog  as  long  as  the  wind  holds 
where  it  is." 

"  I  have  been  expecting  to  be  buried  in  fog," 
added  the  captain,  as  he  took  a  survey  of  the  deck 
beneath  him.  "  I  see  by  the  log  slate  that  we  are 
making  fifteen  knots  an  hour,  and  we  certainly  are 
not  driving  her." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  is  a  very  fast 
vessel,"  said  Mr.  LillyAvorth.  "Well,  she  ought  to 
be,  for  I  understand  that  she  was  built  for  a  noble- 
man's yacht,  and  such  men  want  speed,  and  are 
willing  to  pay  for  it." 

"■By  tomorrow,  we  shall  be  in  the  latitude  of 


130  ON   THE  BLOCKADE 

the  Bermudas,  and  most  of  the  blockade  runners 
put  in  there,  or  some  more  southern  port,  to  get 
the  news,  and  obtain  a  pilot,  if  they  don't  happen 
to  have  one  on  board." 

"  That  seems  to  be  the  way  they  do  it." 

"This  fosr  is  favorable  to  blockade  runners  if 
they  have  a  skilful  pilot  on  board ;  and  they  all 
contrive  to  have  such  a  one,"  added  the  captain, 
as  he  moved  towards  the  steps  to  the  deck. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  opened  your  sealed  orders, 
Captain  Passford,"  said  the  second  lieutenant,  who 
seemed  to  be  interested  in  this  subject.  "  We 
have  crossed  the  thirty-eighth  parallel." 

"  Yes ;  I  have  opened  the  envelope,  and  found 
the  orders  very  peculiar  and  very  disappointing," 
replied  the  captain  as  he  took  a  step  on  the  ladder. 
"  But  you  will  excuse  me  now  from  speaking  of 
them,  for  I  have  another  matter  on  my  mind." 

Christy  thought  Pink  Mulgrum  might  as  well 
tell  him  about  the  orders  and  he  could  at  least 
save  his  breath  if  he  had  no  other  motive  for  leav- 
ing the  second  lieutenant  in  the  dark  for  the 
present.  He  went  to  the  deck,  and  then  down 
into  the  cabin.  His  breakfast  was  ready,  but 
Dave  was  not  there,  and  he  walked  forward  into 


•ANOTHER    READING   OF   SEALED   ORDERS      131 

the  ward  room,  from  which  he  saw  Mulgrum 
replenishing  the  table  in  the  steerage.  He  had 
evacuated  his  place  under  the  berth  in  the  state 
room,  and  the  captain  went  to  his  breakfast  in  his 
cabin.  Dave  soon  appeared  with  the  hot  dishes 
from  the  galley,  for  he  had  seen  Christy  take  his 
place  at  the  table. 

"  What's  the  news,  Dave  ?  "  asked  the  captain. 

"  No  news,  sir,  except  that  I  gave  Pink  a  chance 
to  get  out  of  that  state  room,"  replied  the  steward, 
spreading  out  his  broadest  smile.  "  I  spoke  out 
loud  just  like  I  was  calling  to  some  one  in  the 
ward  room,  '  No,  sir,  I  can't  go  now ;  I  have  to  go 
to  the  galley  for  the  dishes.'  Then  I  left  the 
cabin,  and  went  forward  ;  when  I  came  back,  I 
looked  under  your  berth,  sir,  and  Pink  wasn't 
there  then." 

"  How  did  you  know  he  was  under  the  berth  in 
the  first  place,  Dave  ?  " 

"  Just  before  eight  bells  I  saw  him  cleaning  the 
brasses  on.  the  door.  I  think  he  will  wear  those 
door  knobs  all  out  before  the  cruise  is  up.  I  knew 
he  was  up  to  something,  and  I  just  watched  him. 
He  went  out  of  sight  and  I  did  not  know  where"  he 
was.     Then  I  took  the  feather  duster,  and  wo;ked 


182  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

about  the  cabin  ;  but  I  couldn't  find  him.  Then  I 
dusted  the  state  room,  and  then  I  did  find  him." 

"  You  have  rendered  good  service,  Dave,  and  I 
shall  not  forget  it,"  added  Christy.  "  Where  are 
Mr.  Flint  and  Mr.  Baskirk?  " 

"  In  the  ward  room,  sir." 

"  Give  my  compliments  to  them,  and  say  that 
I  wish  to 'see  them  in  my  cabin  in  about  ten 
minutes,"  continued  the  captain. 

Dave  left  the  cabin,  and  Christy  devoted  him- 
self to  his  breakfast ;  and  in  his  haste  to  meet  the 
officers  indicated,  he  hurried  the  meal  more  than 
was  prudent  for  the  digestion.  The  steward  re- 
ported that  he  had  delivered  the  message,  and 
Christy  finished  his  hasty  collation. 

The  table  was  hurriedly  cleared  by  the  steward, 
and  the  captain  paid  a  visit  to  his  state  room, 
during  which  he  did  not  fail  to  look  under  his 
berth.  He  had  a  trunk  there,  and  he  saw  that  it 
had  been  moved  to  the  front  of  the  space,  so  that 
there  was  room  enough  for  the  conspirator  to 
conceal  his  body  behind  it,  though  his  was  a  good- 
sized  body.  Returning  to  the  cabin,  he  took  his 
usual  seat  at  the  table,  facing  the  door.  In  a  few 
minutes  more  Mr.  Flint  and  Mr.  Baskirk  came  to 


DAVE   FINDS   MULGRUM   UNDER  THE   BERTH. 


ANOTHER    READING   OF    SEALED   ORDERS      133 

•the  door  and  were  invited  to  come  in.  Dave  had 
returned  from  the  galley,  and  he  was  instructed  to 
watch  that  door  as  he  was  told  to  close  it. 

Flint  took  the  seat  assigned  to  him,  and  Baskirk 
was  placed  opposite  to  him.  The  first  lieutenant 
appeared  to  be  a  great  deal  more  dissatisfied  than 
the  captain ;  but  then  he  was  a  poor  man,  and 
next  to  his  duty  to  his  country,  he  was  as  anxious 
as  the  average  officer  to  make  all  the  money  he 
could  out  of  the  prizes  captured  by  his  ship.  It 
looked  to  him  as  though  all  his  chances  had 
slipped  beyond  his  reach  for  the  present. 

Flint  had  taken  no  little  stock  in  the  two 
steamers  that  were  expected  on  the  coast  at  this 
time,  and  in  spite  of  the  treachery  anticipated  he 
had  counted  upon  a  share  in  at  least  one  of  them. 
He  knew  very  well  .that  the  commander,  from 
sharp  experience  at  his  side  some  months  before, 
would  not  pass  by  an  opportunity  to  strike  a  blow, 
even  in  the  face  of  any  reasonable  risk.  But  now, 
as  he  looked  at  it,  the  wings  of  the  young  captain 
had  been  clipped  by  the  authorities  at  Washington, 
in  the  sealed  orders. 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you  again,  gentlemen ; 
indeed  I  may  say  that  I  am  particularly  glad  to 


134  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

see  you,"  said  Christy  in  his  most  cheerful  tones,* 
as  he  looked  about  the  cabin,  and  especially  at  the 
ports,  to  see  if  there  was  a  spy  looking  in  at  one 
of  them. 

The  thought  came  to  him  then  and  there  that  it 
was  possible  for  a  man  to  hang  over  the  rail,  and 
place  one  of  his  ears  at  an  opening  and  listen  to 
what  was  going  on  ;  and  besides  there  were,  be- 
sides Mulgrum,  six  others  who  were  capable  of 
doing-  such  a  thing.  He  sent  Mr.  Baskirk  on  deck 
to  see  that  no  man  was  at  work  over  the  side.  He 
returned  and  reported  that  no  one  was  in  a  posi- 
tion to  hear  what  was  said  in  the  cabin. 

Flint  did  not  seem  to  be  as  much  interested  in 
the  proceedings  as  on  former  occasions,  for  he  had 
had  time  to  consider  the  effect  of  the  orders,  and 
he  saw  no  way  to  evade  them.  They  might  pick 
up  some  cotton  schooners,  but  no  such  prizes  as 
the  Scotian  and  the  Arran  were  likely  to  be  taken 
when  the  steamer  reached  her  station,  wherever  it 
might  be,  and  the  whole  squadron  shLred  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  captures. 

"  You  listened  to  the  orders  I  read  this  noon," 
began  Christy,  with  a  pronounced  twinkling  of  his 
eyes. 


ANOTHER   READING   OF   SEALED   ORDERS       135 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and,  Captain  Passf  ord,  I  have  felt  as 
if  the  gates  of  honor  and  profit  had  been  closed 
against  the  Bronx,"  added  Flint. 

"  Perhaps  a  second  reading  of  the  orders  will 
put  a  different  aspect  on  the  gates,"  said  the  cap- 
tain with  a  significant  smile,  the  force  of  which, 
however,  the  first  lieutenant  failed  to  comprehend. 

"  Under  these  orders  there  seems  to  be  no  alter- 
native but  to  hasten  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
run  away  from  any  blockade  runner  we  may  hap- 
pen to  see,"  growled  Flint. 

"  You  are  not  as  amiable  as  usual,  Mr.  Flint." 

"  How  can  one  be  amiable  under  such  orders  ?  " 
added  Flint,  trying  to  smile. 

"  I  will  read  them  over  again,  now  that  we  have 
not  as  many  auditors  as  before,"  said  the  captain. 

Christy  proceeded  to  read  the  document  as  it 
was  written. 


136  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XII 

A   SAIL   ON   THE   STARBOARD   BOW 

Before  Captain  Passford  had  read  two  lines  of 
the  document  in  his  hands,  a  noise  as  of  a  scuffle 
was  heard  in  the  passage  way.  to  the  ward  room. 
Mr.  Baskirk  was  sent  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 
disturbance,  and  he  threw  the  door  wide  open. 
Dave  was  there,  blocking  the  passage  way,  and 
Pink  Mulgrum  was  trying  to  force  his  way  to- 
wards the  cabin  door.  The  steward  declared  that 
no  one  must  go  to  the  cabin  ;  it  was  the  order  of 
the  captain  himself.  Mulgrum  found  it  conven- 
ient not  to  hear  on  this  occasion.  The  moment 
Baskirk  appeared,  the  deaf  mute  exhibited  a  paper, 
which  he  passed  to  the  new  lieutenant,  evidently 
satisfied  that  he  could  get  no  nearer  to  the  door. 
When  he  had  delivered  the  paper,  he  hastened  up 
the  ladder  to-  the  deck.  Dave  came  into  the  cabin 
and  explained  that  Mulgrum  had  tried  to  force 
him  out  of  the  way,  and  he  had  resisted.     The 


A   SAIL   ON   THE    STARBOARD  187 

intruder  did  not  exhibit  any  paper  till  the   third 
lieutenant  appeared  at  the  door. 

"  That  man  is  very  persevering  in  his  efforts  to 
procure  information,"  said  Christy,  as  he  unfolded 
the  paper.  "  '  The  fog  is  very  dense  ahead,  and 
we  shall  soon  be  shut  in  by  it,'  "  he  read  from  the 
paper.  "  Mr.  Lilly  worth  might  have  found  a  man 
that  could  speak  for  his  messenger,"  he  continued, 
"  but  of  course  he  wanted  to  assist  his  confederate 
to  obtain  more  information." 

"  I  don't  see  what  he  wants  to  know  now,  for 
Mulgrum  has  told  him  the  contents  of  the  sealed 
envelope  before  this  time,  and  he  knows  that  the 
gates  are  closed  against  us,"  added  Flint.  "  It  is 
plain  enough  that  they  have  had  their  heads 
together." 

','  Certainly  they  have  ;  but  Mr.  Lillyworth  may 
not  be  any  better  satisfied  with  his  information 
than  you  are,  Mr.  Flint,"  replied  the  captain,  with 
an  expressive  smile,  though  he  felt  that  his  fellow 
officer  had  been  tantalized  long  enough  by  the  cir- 
cumstances. "  I  have  read  and  studied  my  orders 
very  attentively.  They  direct  me  to  proceed  with 
all  reasonable  despatch  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
report  to  the  flag  officer  of  the  Eastern  Gulf 
Squadron,  or  his  representative. 


138  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

" '  But  information  has  been  received,'  "  con- 
tinued Christy,  reading  what  he  had  not  read 
before,  " '  that  two  steamers,  probably  fitted  out 
for  service  in  the  Confederate  navy,  are  approach- 
ing the  coast  of  the  Southern  States,  and  it  is  very 
important  that  they  should  be  intercepted.  Both 
of  these  vessels  are  reported  to  have  small  crews, 
but  they  are  said  to  be  fast.  The  department 
regrets  that  it  has  not  a  suitable  steamer  available 
to  send  in  search  of  these  two  vessels ;  but  relying 
upon  your  well-known  patriotism  and  the  excel- 
lent record  you  have  already  made,  you  are  in- 
structed to  intercept  them,  even  if  you  are  delayed 
a  week  or  more  by  any  hopeful  circumstances.' 
That  is  the  material  portion  of  my  orders,"  added 
Christy,  as  he  read  the  last  sentence.  "  But  I  beg 
you  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  did  not  write  the  com- 
mendatory expressions  in  the  paper." 

"  But  they  are  as  true  as  the  holy  Gospels ! " 
exclaimed  Flint,  springing  out  of  his  chair  in  the 
heat  of  the  excitement  which  the  new  reading  of 
the  orders  produced  in  his  mind.  "  But  I  thought 
you  had  read  the  sealed  orders  to  us  before,  Cap- 
tain Passford." 

"  I  read  but  a  very  small  part  of  them  before ; 


A   SAIL   ON   THE   STAEBOARD  1S9 

and  as  I  had  to  improvise  the  greater  part  of  what 
I  lead,  or  rather  did  not  read,  but  simply  uttered, 
the  language  was  not  all  well  chosen,"  replied 
Christy,  laughing  in  spite  of  all  his  attempts  to 
maintain  his  dignity.  "  The  fact  is,  Mr.  Flint,  I 
had  too  many  listeners  when  I  read  the  paper 
before." 

"  There  was  no  one  in  the  cabin  but  Mr.  Bas- 
kirk  and  myself,  and  Dave  had  been  stationed  at 
the  door ;  or  at  least  he  was  there,  for  he  beckoned 
you  out  into  the  gangway  just  as  you  were  begin- 
ning to  read  the  orders,"  argued  Flint.  "  Possibly 
I  should  have  understood  the  first  reading  better 
if  I  had  not  seen  for  myself  that  you  had  taken  all 
precautions  against  any  listener.  You  went  out 
when  Dave  called  you ;  but  you  were  not  gone 
half  a  minute ;  and  that  was  not  long  enough  for 
the  steward  to  spin  any  long  yarn." 

"  But  it  was  long  enough  for  Dave  to  tell  me 
that  Pink  Mulgrum  was  under  my  berth,  with  the 
state  room  door  open,"  replied  Christy. 

"  Just  so  ;  I  comprehend  the  whole  matter  now," 
said  Flint,  joining  the  captain  in  the  laugh. 

"  Now  you  know  what  my  instructions  are, 
gentlemen,"   continued   the    commander,   "  and    I 


140  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

hope  and  believe  that  Mr.  Lilly  worth  and  his 
right  hand  man  do  not  know  them.  I  think  you 
have  been  already  posted,  Mr.  Baskirk,  in  regard 
to  the  anomalous  state  of  affairs  on  board  of  the 
Bronx,"  added  the  captain. 

"Not  fully,  Captain  Passford;  but  Mr.  Flint 
has  told  me  something  about  the  situation,"  re- 
plied the  third  lieutenant. 

"  It  may  not  be  necessary,  gentlemen,  that  I 
should  say  it,  but  not  a  word  of  what  passes  in 
my  cabin  is  to  be  repeated  in  any  other  part  of 
the  ship ;  not  even  in  the  ward  room  when  you 
believe  you  are  entirely  alone,"  said  the  captain, 
very  earnestly  and  impressively.  "  If  the  doors 
and  keyholes  do  not  have  ears,  there  may  be  ears 
behind  them,  as  some  of  us  have  learned  to  our 
entire  satisfaction." 

"Not  a  word  from  me,  Captain  Passford," 
added  Baskirk. 

"  And  not  one  from  me,"  repeated  Flint. 

'.'  Unquestionably  the  curiosity  of  Mr.  Lilly- 
worth  and  his  confederate  are  and  will  continue 
to  be  excited  to  the  highest  pitch,"  continued 
Christy.  "  I  shall  have  occasion  to  change  the 
course  of  the  ship,  and  head  her  more  to  the  east- 


A    SAIL   ON   THE   STARBOARD  141 

ward.  Of  course  the  second  lieutenant  will 
observe  this,  and  will  understand  that  I  am  not 
following  the  orders  reported  to  him  by  Mulgrum. 
You  are  my  only  confidants  on  board,  and  it  will 
be  necessary  for  you  to  refer  Mr.  Lillyworth  to 
me  when  he  asks  for  further  information." 

"  Perfectly  understood,"  replied  Flint,  who  was 
now  in  most  excellent  humor. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  I  will  leave  you  in  my  cabin 
that  Mr.  B  as  kirk  may  be  more  fully  instructed  in 
regard  to  the  matters  which  have  passed  between 
Mr.  Flint  and  myself.  I  have  great  expectations 
in  regard  to  you,  Mr.  Baskirk,  and  I  am  confident 
that  you  will  realize  them." 

Saying  this,  Christy  bowed  to  his  companions, 
and  left  the  cabin,  retiring  to  his  state  room  and 
closing  the  door.  He  had  on  board  a  full  supply 
of  charts  and  nautical  instruments  of  his  own,  in 
addition  to  those  belonging  to  the  ship.  Spread- 
ing out  the  chart  of  the  South  Atlantic  on  the 
desk,  he  went  to  work  with  his  dividers  and 
parallel  rule.  He  made  his  figures  on  a  piece  of 
paper,  and  then  laid  off  a  course  on  the  chart  with 
a  pencil,  to  be  deepened  in  red  ink  at  another 
time. 


142  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Writing  "  southeast  by  east "  on  a  slip  of  paper, 
he  restored  his  charts  and  instruments  to  their 
places  and  left  the  state  room.  The  two  lieu- 
tenants were  still  in  his  cabin,  but  he  did  not 
disturb  them  and  went  on  deck.  Before  he 
reached  the  bridge,  six  bells  struck,  or  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  He  then  ascended  the 
ladder  to  the  bridge.  The  fog  which  the  second 
lieutenant  had  predicted  had  not  yet  enveloped 
the  ship ;  on  the  contrary,  it  looked  more  like 
clearing  off,  and  some  patches  of  blue  sky  could 
be  seen. 

"  Mr.  Lilly  worth,  you  will  make  the  course 
southeast  by  east,"  said  Christy,  looking  at  the 
officer  of  the  deck. 

"  Southeast  by  east ! "  exclaimed  the  second 
lieutenant;  and  his  remark  needed  an  exclama- 
tion point  after  it,  for  though  it  was  customary  to 
repeat  an  order  to  make  sure  that  it  was  under- 
stood, he  did  so  in  such  a  tone  and  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  manifest  very  clearly  his  astonishment 
at  the  nature  of  the  order.  The  former  course 
had  been  south  by  west. 

One  thing  was  fully  evident  from  this  surprise 
—  that  the  officer  of  the  deck  fj-iwc  full  faith  to  the 


A  SAIL  ON   THE   STARBOARD  1-13 

bogus  instructions  which  had  been  imparted  to 
him  by  Mulgrum.  He  believed  that  the  Bronx 
was  to  hasten  to  the  Gulf,  as  the  former  course 
indicated.  It  was  plain  enough  to  Lillyworth  that 
the  captain  was  disregarding  his  instructions ;  but 
Ins  lips  were  sealed  in  regard  to  this  disobedience, 
for  he  could  not  indicate  in  any  manner  that  he 
knew  the  purport  of  the  sealed  orders ;  and  doubt- 
less it  did  not  occur  to  him  that  the  deaf  mute 
had  been  blinded,  in  addition  to  his  other  infirmi- 
ties. The  course  was  given  out  to  the  quarter- 
master at  the  wheel.  The  steamer  promptly  fell 
off,  and  began  to  ride  quartering  over  the  smart 
billows,  brought  out  by  the  wind  from  the  south- 
southwest,  as  it  had  blown  for  the  last  hour  or 
more. 

Christy  believed  that  he  had  put  everything  in 
train  for  accomplishing  the  mission  of  the  Bronx 
on  the  new  course  he  had  just  ordered.  There 
were  no  more  orders  to  be  read,  and  he  did  not 
see  that  the  conspirators  could  do  anything  more 
to  derange  the  plans  of  the  loyal  officers  and  sea- 
men on  board.  All  they  had  attempted  so  far 
was  to  obtain  information  in  regard  to  the  move- 
ments of  the  vessel ;  and  Christy  had  taken  care 


144  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

that  they  should  receive  all  the  information  they 
wanted,  though  not  as  reliable  as  it  might  have 
been.  He  was  satisfied  with  the  situation  as  it 
must  remain  till  some  decided  event  should  call 
for  energetic  action. 

The  captain  and  the  two  ward-room  officers  in 
his  confidence  were  obliged  to  conduct  themselves 
with  the  utmost  caution  and  discretion  in  order 
not  to  undo  anything  which  had  been  done  in 
blinding  the  eyes  of  the  conspirators.  Christy  had 
an  abundance  of  writing  to  do,  and  it  was  of  a 
kind  that  would  not  betray  any  of  his  secrets  ;  he 
called  upon  Mulgrum  to  do  this  work,  in  order  to 
keep  up  appearances.  He  did  not  call  any  more 
conferences  with  his  friends  in  the  cabin,  for  there 
was  no  need  of  any,  and  entire  silence  was  the 
more  prudent. 

The  Bronx  proceeded  on  the  course  the  captain 
had  given  out  until  the  twentieth  of  the  month, 
when  the  steamer  was  a  little  to  the  southward  of 
the  Bermudas.  She  had  not  been  near  enough  to 
the  islands  to  be  made  out  from  the  shore.  On 
this  day,  when  the  Bronx  was  three  days  from 
Sandy  Hook,  the  fog  which  Mr.  Lillyworth  had 
been  predicting  settled  down  on  the  steamer,  not 


A   SAIL   ON   THE   STARBOARD  145 

as  dense  as  it  might  be,  but  thick  enough  to  pre- 
vent those  on  board  of  her  from  seeing  anything 
at  any*  great  distance  from  her.  The  second  lieu- 
tenant, in  charge  of  the  deck,  suggested  to  the 
captain  that  the  whistle  should  be  blown ;  but 
Christy  answered  very  emphatically  that  no 
whistles  were  to  be  blown ;  though  he  ordered  the 
lookouts  to  be  doubled,  and  the  steamer  to  pro- 
ceed at  half  speed. 

In  the  middle  of  the  second  dog  watch,  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Baskirk,  the  lookout  on  the  topsail 
yard  made  himself  heard,  and  the  others  aloft 
repeated  the  call. 

"  Sail  on  the  starboard  bow,  sir  !  "  said  the  first 
lookout  from  the  yard,  hailing  the  bridge. 

Captain  Passford  heard  the  hail  from  aloft,  for 
he  was  planking  the  deck  with  the  first  lieutenant. 
Both  of  them  rushed  forward  at  a  pace  rather 
undignified  for  a  commander. 

"  Silence,  aloft !  "  shouted  the  captain.  "  We 
have  made  her  out.  Mr.  Flint,  you  will  take  the 
deck,  and  call  all  hands  without  any  unnecessary 
noise." 

This  order  was  given  to  Giblock,  the  boatswain, 
aifd  in  a  minute  or  two  every  man  on  board  was  in 


146  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

his  station.  The  first  lieutenant  remained  on  the 
bridge,  but  the  second  took  his  place  in  the  waist, 
and  the  third  forward,  though  this  arrangement  of 
the  officers  was  not  sanctioned  by  ancient  usage. 
Silence  was  commanded,  and  the  engine,  working 
at  half  speed,  made  hardly  any  noise.  The  cap- 
tain had  spoken  to  Sampson,  the  chief  engineer, 
and  he  had  done  his  best  to  avoid  all  noise  in  his 
department. 

The  captain  and  the  first  lieutenant  remained 
on  the  bridge,  anxiously  sighting  in  the  direction 
in  which  the  sail  had  been  reported  to  be.  As  the 
captain  had  instructed  the  engineer  to  do,  he  had 
caused  the  fires  to  be  reduced  and  a  change  of  fuel 
used  so  that  the  smokestack  of  the  Bronx  was  just 
beginning  to  send  up  volumes  of  black  smoke. 
The  bunkers  contained  a  small  portion  of  soft  coal 
for  this  purpose. 


THE   STEAMER   IN    THE   FOG  147 


CHAPTER   XIII 

THE   STEAMER   IN   THE   FOG 

The  Bronx  was  slowly  approaching  the  steamer 
in  the  fog,  which  appeared  to  have  stopped  her 
propeller,  and  to  be  resting  motionless  on  the  long 
swells,  hardly  disturbed  by  a  breath  of  air.  By 
tins  time  the  smokestack  of  the  Bronx  was  vomit- 
ing forth  dense  clouds  of  black  smoke.  The 
steamers  of  the  navy  used  anthracite  coal,  which 
burns  without  any  great  volume  of  smoke,  and 
blockade  runners  had  already  begun  to  lay  in 
whatever  stock  of  it  they  were  able  to  procure  to 
be  used  as  they  approached  the  coast  where  they 
were  to  steal  through  the  national  fleet.  The 
attention  of  the  naval  department  of  the  United 
States  had  already  been  given  to  this  subject,  and 
the  first  steps  had  been  taken  to  prevent  the  sale 
of  this  comparatively  smokeless  coal  where  it  could 
be  obtained  by  the  blockade  runners. 

Christy 'had  been  on  the  blockade,  and  he  had 


148  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

been  in  action  with  a  steamer  from  the  other  side 
of  the  ocean  ;  and  he  knew  that  this  black  smoke 
of  the  soft  coal,  exclusively  used  by  English 
steamers,  was  a  telltale  in  regard  to  such  vessels. 
It  had  been  an  idea  of  his  own  to  take  in  a  supply 
of  this  kind  of  fuel,  for  while  its  smoke  betrayed 
the  character  of  vessels  intending  to  run  the  block- 
ade, the  absence  of  it  betrayed  the  loyalty  of  the 
national  steamers  to  the  blockade  runners.  It  was 
a  poor  rule  that  would  not  work  both  ways,  and 
the  commander  of  the  Bronx  had  determined  to 
adopt  the  scheme  he  had  now  put  in  force  on 
board  of  his  vessel.  Although  the  craft  on  the 
starboard  bow  could  hardly  be  distinguished  in 
the  fog,  Christy  had  sent  a  trusty  seaman  aloft 
to  report  on  the  color  of  the  smoke  that  issued 
from  her  funnel. 

This  man  had  reported  by  swinging  his  cap  in 
the  air,  as  the  captain  had  instructed  him  to  do  if 
he  found  that  the  smoke  was  that  of  soft  coal.  If 
there  was  no  black  smoke,  he  was  to  return  to  the 
deck  without  making  any  sign.  The  moment 
therefore  that  the  man  had  been  able  to  see  the 
quality  of  the  smoke,  the  commander  was  made  as 
wise  as  though  be  had  seen  it  himself.     The  infor- 


THE    STEAMER   IN    THE   FOG  149 

mation  left  him  no  doubt  that  the  steamer  was 
intended  to  run  the  blockade ;  but  whether  or  not 
she  was  one  of  the  expected  pair,  of  course  he 
could  form  no  opinion,  for  already  this  part  of  the 
ocean  had  begun  to  swarm  with  vessels  in  this 
service. 

"  I  am  beginning  to  make  her  out  a  little  better," 
said  Flint,  who  had  been  straining  his  eyes  to  the 
utmost  capacity,  as  everybody  else  on  board  was 
doing,  to  obtain  the  best  and  earliest  information 
in  regard  to  the  stranger  on  the  starboard  bow. 

"  What  do  you  make  out,  Mr.  Flint  ?  "  asked 
Christy,  who  was  too  busily  employed  in  watching 
the  movements  of  the  officers  and  seamen  on  his 
own  deck  to  give  especial  attention  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  other  steamer. 

"  I  can't  see  well  enough  yet  to  say  anything  in 
regard  to  details,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant.  "  I 
can  only  make  out  her  form  and  size ;  and  she 
seems  to  be  as  nearly  like  the  Bronx  as  one  pea  is 
like  another,  though  I  should  say  that  she  was 
longer." 

uIs  she  in  motion?"  asked  the  captain  with 
interest. 

"  She  appears  to  be  at  rest,  though  it  is  possible 


150  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

that  she  is  moving  very  slowly  ;  but  if  she  has  not 
.".topped  her  screw,  she  is  not  going  more  than  four 
knots." 

"  You  say  that  she  is  built  like  the  Bronx,  Mr. 
Flint?"  asked  Christy  anxiously. 

"  Just  like  her ;  I  should  say  that  both  hulls 
came  out  of  the  same  mould." 

"•That  very  nearly  settles  the  question  in"  my 
mind.  Probably  she  was  designed  by  the  same 
naval  architect,  and  constructed  by  the  same 
builders,  as  the  Bronx,"  replied  Christy,  gazing 
intently  at  the  dim  outlines  of  the  steamer  in  the 
fog.  "  When  a  designer  has  made  a  great  reputa- 
tion for  fast  ships,  men  with  piles  of  money,  like 
the  former  owners  of  the  Bronx,  the  Scotian,  and 
the  Arran,  employ  him  to  furnish  the  plans  for 
their  steam  yachts.  From  what  we  have  learned 
so  far,  though  it  is  very  little  indeed,  I  feel  rea- 
sonably sure  that  this  steamer  ahead  of  us  is  the 
Scotian  or  the  Arran,  and  I  don't  care  much  which 
it  is.  But  why  has  she  stopped  her  screw,  or 
reduced  her  speed  to  four  knots  ?  " 

4t  That  is  a  question  that  can  only  be  answered 
an  hour  or  two  hence,  if  ever,"  replied  the  first 
lieutenant. 


THE    STEAMER    IN    THE    FOG  151 

"  But  it  is  a  very  important  question  all  the 
same,"  added  Christy. 

"  I  doubt  if  the  Bronx  is  making  four  knots  at 
the  present  moment,"  said  Flint,  as  he  went  to 
the  end  of  the  bridge,  and  looked  down  into  the 
water. 

"  In  changing  the  fires  in  the  furnaces,  Mr. 
Sampson  had  been  obliged  to  clear  them  out  in 
part,  and  that  has  reduced  the  pressure  of  steam ; 
but  we  shall  soon  have  the  usual  head,"  said 
Christy,  as  he  went  to  the  speaking  tube  and 
communicated  with  the  chief  engineer. 

He  was  informed  that  his  explanation  was  cor- 
rect in  regard  to  the  coal,  and  that  in  a  very  short 
time  the  boilers  would  have  a  full  head  of  steam. 
Christy  spent  the  next  few  minutes  in  an  earnest 
study  of  the  scarcely  perceptible  outline  of  the 
steamer  in  the  fog.  He  was  hardly  wiser  when 
he  had  finished  his  examination  than  before.  The 
hull  and  lower  masts  of  the  vessel  could  be  indis- 
tinctly made  out,  and  that  was  all.  Sampson  in- 
formed him  'that  he  had  not  been  using  all  the 
steam  he  had,  and  that  the  screw  was  hardly  turn- 
ing at  all.     He  ordered  him  to  stop  it  entirely. 

Impatient  as  he  was  to  follow  up  the  discovery 


152  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

tliat  had  been  made,  he  realized  that  it  would  be 
very  imprudent  to  expose  his  ship  to  possible 
danger  when  he  had  not  steam  enough  to  work 
her  to  the  best  advantage.  He  could  only  wait ; 
but  he  was  satisfied  that  he  had  done  the  best 
possible  thing  in  changing  the  coal,  for  the  black 
smoke  would  effectually  blind  the  officers  of  the 
other  vessel.  They  were  not  engaged  in  a  chase, 
and  the  exciting  question  could  be  settled  a  few 
hours  hence  as  well  as  at  the  present  time. 

"  If  the  steamer  ahead  is  the  Scotian  or  the 
Arran,  as  I  fully  believe  she  is,  probably  her  con- 
sort is  somewhere  in  these  waters,"  said  the  com- 
mander. 

"  Probably  she  lost  sight  of  her  in  this  fog," 
added  Flint.  "  But,  Captain  Passford,  we  are  in 
the  face  of  something,  though  we  do  not  yet  know 
precisely  what.  I  suppose  you  have  your  eye  on 
Mr.  Lilly  worth  ?  " 

"  I  have  kept  him  in  sight  all  the  time.  He  is 
oil  the  quarter  deck  now,  as  he  has  been  since  all 
hands  were  called,"  replied  Christy,  who  had  not 
failed  to  look  at  him  for  a  full  minute  since  the 
discovery  of  the  sail  on  the  starboard.  "  He 
seems  to  be  perplexed  by  the  situation,  and  his 


THE    STEAMER    IN    THE    FOG  153 

time  for  action,  if  he  intends  to  act,  has  not  yet 
come." 

"  I  don't  see  Pink  Mulgrum  anywhere  about 
the  deck." 

"  I  saw  him  a  few  minutes  since,"  added  Christy. 
"  He  passed  several  times  quite  near  Mr.  Lilly- 
worth,  and  very  likely  something  was  said  be- 
tween them ;  but  they  had  no  long  talk." 

Christy  had  charged  Dave  to  watch  Mulgrum  if 
he  went  below,  and  to  follow  him  up  closely  ;  but 
the  deaf  mute  had  been  on  deck  most  of  the  time. 
There  was  nothing  that  he  could  do,  and  nothing 
that  the  second  lieutenant  could  do,  to  embarrass 
the  operations  of  the  ship  while  she  remained  at 
rest.  The  captain  then  descended  to  the  deck,  and 
personally  looked  into  the  condition  of  everything. 
In  the  course  of  his  round  he  came  to  the  quarter 
deck  where  the  second  lieutenant  was  stationed. 
He  could  see  that  he  was  nervous  and  uneasy  about 
something,  and  it  was  not  difficult  to  divine  what 
perplexed  him.  He  could  hardly  see  the  black 
smoke  from  the  funnel  of  the  steamer  in  the  fog, 
for  his  place  on  the  deck  did  not  permit  him  to 
obtain  as  good  a  view  of  her  as  could  be  had  from 
the  bridge,  and  especially  from  aloft. 


154  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  Do  you  make  out  what  that  vessel  is,  Captain 
Passford  ? "  asked  Lilly  worth,  as  Christy  passed 
near  him. 

"  Not  yet,  Mr.  Lillyworth,"  replied  the  captain, 
not  caring  to  converse  with  the  conspirator. 

"  The  fog  does  not  seem  to  he  very  dense,  and  I 
should  think  the  vessel  might  be  made  out  from 
aloft,"  added  the  second  lieutenant,  evidently  very 
anxious  to  know  more  about  the  sail  ahead. 

"  Not  very  clearly,"  replied  Christy,  as  he  went 
forward  to  the  engine  hatch. 

He  descended  to  the  engine  room,  and  while  he 
was  listening  to  the  roar  of  the  flames  in  the  fur- 
naces, so  different  from  the  action  of  anthracite 
coal,  Sampson  came  up  from  the  fire  room. 

"  We  shall  have  a  sufficient  head  of  steam  in  a 
few  minutes  to  justify  you  in  going  ahead,  Captain 
Passford,"  said  the  engineer  without  waiting  to  be 
questioned. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  though  we  are  in  no 
special  hurry  at  present,  in  spite  of  our  impatience 
to  know  what  is  before  us,"  replied  the  captain. 
"  Do  you  know  the  man  who  passes  under  the 
name  of  Mulgrum,  Mr.  Sampson  ?  " 

"  You  mean  Pink,  the  deaf  mute  ?     Mr.  Nawood 


THE    STEAMER    IN    THE    FOG  155 

pointed  him  out  to  me,  and  I  have  seen  him  about 
the  deck  or  in  the  steerage  several  times." 

"  Has  he  been  in  the  engine  room  at  any  time 
since  we  sailed?  "  asked  Christy. 

"  He  may  have  been  ;  but  I  have  not  noticed  him 
anywhere  in  my  department,''  replied  Sampson.    ■ 

"  You  will  not  allow  him  in  the  engine  or  fire 
room,"  continued  the  captain.  "  Send  him  out, 
drive  him  out,  if  necessary,  at  once." 

"  Being  deaf  and  dumb,  I  should  suppose  he 
were  harmless  wherever  he  happened  to  be.  Is 
he  —  " 

"  Never  mind  what  he  is  just  now,  Mr.  Samp- 
son," interposed  Christy.  "  Be  very  particular  to 
obey  my  order  in  regard  to  him  to  the  letter; 
that's  all  now.  Inform  me  at  once  when  j^ou  are 
ready  to  go  ahead,  and  I  shall  be  on  the  bridge." 

The  order  which  Christy  had  just  given  to  the 
engineer  was  the  result  of  his  reflection  since  he 
came  down  from  the  bridge.  He  had  been  cudg- 
elling his  brains  to  determine  what  the  conspira- 
tors could  possibly  do  when  the  decisive  moment 
came,  if  it  should  happen  to  come  as  he  neared  the 
steamer  in  the  fog,  to  derange  the  operations  on 
board.      It  seemed  to  him    before    that   all   they 


156  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

could  do  was  to  leap  on  board  of  the  enemy,  if 
it  came  to  boarding  her,  and  reinforce  her  crew. 
He  had  talked  over  this  matter  with  Flint  and 
Baskirk,  and  there  were  three  who  would  be  ready 
to  shoot  either  of  them  the'  instant  their  treachery 
should  be  apparent. 

Before  it  would  be  possible  to  board,  a  man  as 
intelligent  as  Mulgrum,  who  had  served  as  execu- 
tive officer,  could  easily  disable  the  engine.  This 
idea  had  but  just  come  to  the  commander,  who 
thought  before  that  he  had  closed  every  opening 
against  the  conspirators.  He  went  on  deck  as 
soon  as  he  had  settled  this  matter.  The  fog- 
seemed  to  be  rather  more  dense  than  before,  and 
when  he  went  on  the  bridge,  it  was  reported  that 
the  stranger  could  no  longer  be  made  out. 

"  I  have  just  received  the  roster  of  the  '  Bronx 
Association,'"  said  Flint,  as  the  captain  joined 
him.  "  It  is  signed  by  every  man  on  board, 
including  the  supernumeraries  forward,  except 
Spoors,  Blocker,  Veering,  Packer,  Pickford,  and 
Runyon.  I  inquired  why  these  men  would  not 
join,  but  could  not  learn  that  they  had  any  reason 
except  that  they  did  not  wish  to  be  members.  I 
have  seen  Mr.  Lilly  worth  talking  to  all  of  these 


THE    STEAMER    IN    THE    FOG  157 

men,  and  I  think  we  can  be  certain  now  who  is 
white  and  who  is  black." 

"  On  the  bridge  !  "  came  from  the  speaking  tube, 
at  this  moment,  and  the  captain  was  near  enough 
to  hear  it.  Mr.  Sampson  reported  that  he  had 
steam  enough  to  make  at  least  ten  knots  an 
hour. 

The  commander  then  instructed  the  first  lieu- 
tenant to  see  that  both  divisions  of  boarders  were 
armed  with  cutlass  and  revolver,  in  readiness  for 
action.  The  second  lieutenant  was  to  attend  to 
the  working  of  the  broadside  guns,  Mr.  Baskirk 
was  to  lead  the  first  division  of  boarders,  and  Mr. 
Giblock,  the  boatswain,  the  second.  Flint  went 
below  to  the  deck  to  execute  his  orders,  and  the 
captain  ordered  the  quartermaster  to  ring  one  bell. 


158  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XIV 

THE   CONFEDERATE   STEAMER    SCOTIAN 

One  bell  sounded  on  the  gong  in  the  engine 
room,  and  the  Bronx  began  to  go  ahead.  Christy 
felt  that  the  most  tremendous  hour  of  his  lifetime 
had  come,  and  he  struggled  to  keep  down  the 
excitement  which  agitated  him ;  and  he  succeeded 
so  far  that  he  appeared  to  be  the  coolest  man 
on  board  of  the  ship.  When  Flint  came  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  bridge,  he  called  to  him  to  join  him. 
The  men  were  procuring  their  revolvers  and  cut- 
lasses, and  he  had  a  moment  to  spare.  The 
captain  instructed  him  to  conceal  the  boarders  so 
that  they  could  not  be  seen  on  board  the  steamer 
in  the  fog  when  the  Bronx  came  up  with  her.  He 
added  some- other  details  to  his  orders. 

"  If  possible,  I  wish  you  to  keep  as  near  Lilly- 
worth  as  you  can,"  continued  Christy,  "  for  I  shall 
not  have  the  opportunity  to  watch  him.  This  war 
cannot  be  conducted  on  peace  principles,  and    if 


THE   CONFEDERATE   STEAMER   SCOTIA N      159 

that  man  attempts  to  defeat  my  orders  in  any 
manner,  don't  hesitate  to  put  a  ball  from  your 
revolver  through  his  heart.  Use  reasonable  care, 
Mr.  Flint,  but  bear  in  mind  that  I  am  not  to  be 
defeated  in  the  capture  of  that  steamer,  if  she 
proves  to  be  what  I  suppose  she  is,  by  the  treach- 
ery of  one  who  accepted  a"  position  as  an  officer 
on  board  of  the  Bronx."  The  commander  was 
firm  and  decided  in  his  manner,  and  Flint  had 
served  with  him  enough  to  know  that  he  meant 
what  he  said. 

"  I  will  obey  your  orders  to  the  letter,  Captain 
Passford,  using  all  reasonable  precautions  in  the 
discharge  of  my  duty,"  replied  Flint.  "  Mr.  Lilly- 
worth  was  in  a  state  of  mutiny  just  now,  and 
spoke  to  me." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  He  declared  that  he  was  second  lieutenant  of 
the  ship,  and  it  was  his  right  to  command  the  first 
division  of  boarders.  He  wouldn't  stand  it.  I 
told  him  he  was  to  be  in  command  of  the  guns. 
He  insisted  that  you  did  not  intend  to  fire  a  gun 
if  you  could  help  it.  I  replied  that  we  should  not 
board  the  vessel  either  if  we  could  help  it.  But 
I   had  no   time  to  argue   with  him,   and   referred 


160  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

him  to  the  captain.  Then  he  moved  towards  the 
ladder  of  the  bridge,  and  I  forbade  him  to  leave 
his  station.  That  is  the  whole  of  it.  I  have  seen 
him  speak  to  each  of  the  six  men  we  now  know  to 
be  his  friends,  to  say  nothing  of  Mulgrum.  I  left 
him  then." 

"All  right  so  far,  Mr.  Flint.  Return  to  the 
deck,  if  yo*u  please,  and  be  sure  that  the  boarders 
are  kept  out  of  sight  from  this  moment,"  added 
Christy.  "  Quartermaster,  ring  four  bells,"  he 
added,  turning  to  the  pilot  house. 

"Four  bells,  sir,"  repeated  McSpindle,  who  was 
at  the  wheel. 

The  Bronx  soon  began  to  feel  the  effect  of  this 
order,  and  the  smoke  poured  out  in  increased  vol- 
ume from  the  smokestack,  affected  by  the  stronger 
draught  produced  by  the  additional  speed. 

"  On  the  topsail  yard  !  "  called  the  captain, 
directing  his  speaking  trumpet  aloft. 

"On  the  bridge,  sir!"  replied  the  man. 

"Can  you  make  out  the  steamer?" 

"  No,  sir ;  only  her  topmasts  and  fore  rigging." 

"  How  does  she  lie  from  the  Bronx  ?  " 

"  Still  on  the  starboard  bow,  sir." 

"  Port  the  helm,  quartermaster,"  added  the 
captain. 


THE   CONFEDERATE    STEAMER    SCOTIAN      161 

"Port,  sir,"  replied  McSpindle. 

For  about  five  minutes  more,  the  Bronx  went 
ahead  at  full  speed,  and  Christy  was  confident 
that  she  was  again  making  fifteen  knots. 

"  On  the  bridge,  sir ! "  called  the  man  on  the 
fore  yard. 

"Aloft!" 

"  I  make  her  out  now  ;  she  has  the  Confederate 
flag  at  the  peak." 

"  All  right !  "  exclaimed  Christy  to  himself, 
though  he  spoke  out  loud. 

The  steamer  had  set  her  colors,  and  there  was 
no  longer  any  doubt  in  regard  to  her  character. 
The  flag  also  indicated  that  she  was  not  a  blockade 
runner  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  but  a 
Confederate  man-of-war.  Warnock  reported  that 
she  had  taken  her  armament  on  board  from  another 
vessel  at  some  point  south  of  England,  and  the 
colors  also  assured  Christy  that  the  steamer  was 
one  of  the  pair  expected. 

Still  the  Bronx  went  ahead  at  full  speed,  and 
presently  a  gun  was  heard  from  the  direction  in 
which  she  lay,  though  the  captain  was  unable  to 
decide  what  it  meant.  It  might  be  a  signal  of 
distress,  but  the  man  on  the  yard  had  not  reported 


162  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

the  colors  as  union  down ;  and  it  might  be  simply 
a  defiance.  It  was  probable  that  the  Scotian  and 
Arran  had  put  in  at  St.  George,  and  it  was  more 
than  possible  that  they  had  shipped  a  reinforce- 
ment to  her  reported  small  crew. 

"  Aloft !  "  called  the  captain  again. 

"  On  the  bridge,  sir ! "  replied  the  lookout. 

"  Is  the  steamer  under  way  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,  sir ;  but  I  can't  make  out  her 
wake,  it  is  so  low." 

"  Starboard  a  little,  quartermaster." 

"  Starboard,  sir." 

Christy  heard,  or  thought  he  heard,  for  he  was 
not  sure  about  it,  the  sound  of  a  bell.  A  minute 
later  the  quartermaster  in  the  pilot  house  struck 
seven  bells,  which  was  repeated  on  the  top-gallant 
forecastle  of  the  Bronx,  and  he  was  confident  this 
was  what  he  had  heard  on  board  of  the  stranger. 
■    "  Quartermaster,  strike  one  bell,"  he  added. 

"  One  bell,  sir ;  "  and  the  gong  resounded  from 
the  engine  room,  and  the  speed  of  the  Bronx  was 
immediately  reduced. 

A  minute  later  Christy  obtained  a  full  view  of 
the  steamer.  She  was  headed  to  the  southwest, 
and   her   propeller  was  not   in   motion.     As    the 


THE   CONFEDERATE   STEAMER   SCOTIAN      163 

lookout  had  reported,  she  was  the  counterpart  of 
the  Bronx,  though  she  was  a  larger  vessel.  He 
gave  some  further  orders  to  the  quartermaster  at 
the  wheel,  for  he  had  decided  to  board  the  steamer 
on  her  port  side.  The  boarders  had  been  concealed 
in  proper  places  under  this  arrangement,  and  the 
captain  had  directed  the  course  of  the  Bronx  so 
that  a  shot  from  her  could  hardly  do  any  harm,  if 
she  took  it  into  her  head  to  fire  one. 

"  Arran,  ahoy  !  "  shouted  a  hoarse  voice  through 
a  speaking  trumpet  from  the  steamer. 

"  On  board  the  Scotian ! "  replied  Christy 
through  his  trumpet. 

After  the  vessel  had  hailed  the  Arran,  the  cap- 
tain had  no  difficulty  in  deciding  that  the  other 
craft  was  the  Scotian ;  and  he  was  especially  glad 
that  the  officer  of  that  vessel  had  hailed  him  in 
this  particular  form.  The  single  word  spoken 
through  that  trumpet  was  the  key  to  the  entire 
enigma.  Every  possible  doubt  was  removed  by 
it.  He  was  now  assured,  as  he  had  not  been 
before,  that  he  had  fallen  in  with  one  of  the  two 
vessels  of  which  his  father  had  given  him  informa- 
tion, and  which  his  sealed  orders  required  him  to 
seek,  even  if  he  was   detained  a  week  or  more. 


164  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Christy  spent  no  time  in  congratulating  himself 
on  the  situation,  but  the  tremendous  idea  passed 
through  his  whole  being  in  an  instant. 

"  We  are  disabled !  "  shouted  the  officer  on 
board  of  the  Scotian  through  his  trumpet. 
"  Please  send  your  engineer  on  board." 

"  All  right !  "  replied  Christy.  "  Go  ahead  a 
little  faster,  Mr.  Sampson.  We  are  very  near  the 
steamer." 

The  young  commander  cast  his  eyes  over  the 
deck  of  his  vessel  to  assure  himself  that  every- 
thing was  ready  for  the  important  moment,  though 
the  situation  did  not  indicate  that  a  very  sharp 
battle  was  to  be  fought.  Eveiything  was  in  order, 
and  the  first  lieutenant  was  planking  the  deck, 
looking  as  though  he  felt  quite  at  home,  for  he 
was  as  cool  as  a  Jersey  cucumber.  Farther  aft 
was  Lillyworth,  as  uneasy  as  a  caged  tiger,  for  no 
doubt  he  realized  that  the  Scotian  was  to  fall  a 
victim  to  the  circumstances  that  beset  her,  rather 
than  as  the  result  of  a  spirited  chase  or  a  sharply 
fought  battle.  He  looked  about  him  for  a  moment, 
and  the  instant  he  turned  his  head,  Mulgrum  came 
out  from  behind  the  mast,  and  passed  quite  near 
him. 


THE    CONFEDERATE    STEAMER    SCOTIAN       165 

The  captain  could  not  tell  whether  the  second 
lieutenant  had  spoken  to  the  deaf  mute  or  not,  but 
the  latter  hastened  to  the  engine  hatch,  and  de- 
scended to  the  engine  room.  The  Bronx  was 
within  less  than  a  cable's  length  of  the  Scotian, 
whose  name  could  now  be  read  on  her  stern, 
when  Mulgrum,  apparently  ordered  by  Lillyworth 
to  do  so,  had  hastened  to  the  engine  hatch.  Even 
on  the  bridge  the  noise  of  a  scuffle  could  be  heard 
in  the  engine  room,  and  the  captain  was  sure  that 
Sampson  had  been  obedient  to  his  orders.  Another 
minute  or  two  would  determine  in  what  manner 
the  Scotian  was  to  be  captured,  and  Christy  has- 
tened down  the  ladder  to  the  deck. 

As  soon  as  his  foot  pressed  the  planks,  he 
hastened  to  the  engine  hatch.  Calling  to  the 
engineer,  he  learned  that  the  deaf  mute  had  been 
knocked  senseless  by  Sampson,  and  lay  on  the 
sofa.  He  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  went  for- 
ward where  there  were  bell  pulls  on  the  deck,  and 
rang  two  bells  to  stop  her.  Then  he  gave  some 
orders  to  the  quartermaster,  and  rang  three  bells 
to  back  her.  The  Bronx  came  alongside  of  the 
Scotian  as  handsomely  as  though  she  had  been  a 
river  steamer  making  one  of  her  usual  landings. 


166  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

The  hands  who  had  been  stationed  for  the  purpose 
immediately  used  their  grappling  irons,  and  the 
two  vessels  were  fast  to  each  other. 

"  Boarders  !  —  "  the  first  lieutenant  shouted  at  a 
sign  from  the  captain ;  but  before  he  cculd  com- 
plete the  order,  Pawcett,  for  we  may  now  call  him 
by  his  right  name,  leaped  on  the  bulwarks  of  the 
1>  ronx. 

"  This  is  a  United  States  "  —  he  began  to  say , 
but  he  was  allowed  to  proceed  no  farther,  for  the 
first  lieutenant  raised  the  revolver  he  carried  in 
his  left  hand,  doubtless  for  this  very  purpose,  and 
fired. 

Pawcett  did  not  utter  another  word,  but  fell 
back  upon  the  deck  of  the  Bronx  ;  where  no  one 
took  any  further  notice  of  him. 

"Boarders,  away  !"  shouted  the  first  lieutenant. 

This  time  the  sentence  was  finished,  and  the 
order  was  promptly  executed.  Hardly  a  half 
minute  had  been  lost  by  the  attempt  of  Pawcett 
to  prepare  the  officers  of  the  Scotian  to  do  their 
duty  ;  but  he  had  said  enough  to  enable  the  ship's 
company  to  understand  what  he  would  have  said 
if  he  had  finished  his  announcement.  The  officers 
and  seamen  were  both  surprised,  and  there  was  a 


THE   CONFEDERATE   STEAMER   SCOTIAN       167 

panic  among  the  latter,  though  the  former  rallied 
them  in  a  moment.  But  they  had  lost  all  their 
chances,  and  after  an  insignificant  struggle,  the 
deck  of  the  steamer  was  in  possession  of  the 
boarders.  The  crew  were  driven  forward  by  the 
victorious  "  Bronxies "  as  Giblock  called  them. 
"  Do  you  surrender  ?  "  said  Mr.  Baskirk  to  the 
officer  he  took  for  the  captain. 

"  I  do  not  see  that  I  have  any  other  alternative," 
replied  the  commander  of  the  Scotian,  politely 
enough,  but  it  Avas  evident  that  he  was  sorely 
afflicted,  and  even  ashamed  of  himself.  "  I  un- 
derstand now  that  I  am  the  victim  of  a  Yankee 
trick." 

"  Allow  me  to  introduce  you  to  Captain  Pass- 
ford,  commander  of  the  United  States  steamer 
Bronx,"  continued  Mr.  Baskirk,  as  Christy  came 
on  board  of  the  prize. 

The  captain  of  the  Scotian  retreated  a  pace  as 
Christy  stepped  up  in  front  of  him,  and  gracefully 
lifted  his  cap  to  the  unfortunate  commander. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  but  did  I  understand 
you  to  say  that  this  young  gentleman  is  the  com- 
mander of  the  steamer  alongside  ?  "  demanded  the 
captain,  looking  at  Christy  from  head  to  foot. 


168  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  He  is  the  commander,  sir ;  Captain  Passford," 
added  Baskirk. 

"  May  I  be  allowed  to  ask  whom  I  have  the 
honor  to  address?"  Christy  began,  lifting  his  cap 
again,  as  did  the  other  also. 

"  Captain  Dinsmore,  at  your  service." 

"I  sincerely  regret  your  personal  misfortune 
while  I  rejoice  at  the  result  of  this  action,  as  a 
loyal  citizen  of  the  United  States,"  replied  Christy. 

Then  he  invited  the  captain  to  his  cabin. 


THE   SCOTIAN   BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCKONEE      1G9 


CHAPTER   XV 

THE   SCOTIAN   BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCKONEE 

As  he  went  to  the  deck  of  the  Bronx,  the  young 
commander  sent  the  first  lieutenant  on  board  of 
the  prize  to  superintend  the  arrangements  for  dis- 
posing of  the  ship's  company.  Captain  Dinsmore 
was  requested  to  produce  his  papers,  and  Christy 
conducted  him  to  his  cabin.  As  his  father  had 
advised  him  always  to  be  on  such  occasions,  he 
was  studiously  polite,  as  in  fact  he  was  at  all 
times.  Whether  the  other  captain  was  usually 
so  or  not,  he  was  certainly  courteous  in  every 
respect,  though,  with  the  heavy  misfortune  which 
had  befallen  him,  it  was  vastly  more  difficult  for 
him  to  control  his  feelings,  and  conduct  himself 
in  a  gentlemanly  manner.  Captain  Passford  de- 
sired to  understand  in  what  capacity  the  Scotian 
was  approaching  the  American  coast  before  he 
made  his  final  arrangements.  After  giving  his 
guest,  as  he  regarded  him,  or  rather  treated  him, 


170  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

a  cliair  in  his  cabin,  Christy  called  Dave,  who  had 
followed  him  below. 

"  Will  you  excuse  me  a  moment  or  two  while  I 
attend  to  a  necessary  duty  ?  "  said  he,  turning  to 
Captain  Dinsmore,  as  he  seated  himself  at  the  table. 

"  Certainly,  captain ;  I  am  not  so  much  in  a 
hurry  as  I  have  been  at  other  times,"  replied  the 
other  with  a  rather  sickly  smile. 

"Keep  a  sharp  lookout  for  the  Arran,"  Christy 
wrote  on  a  piece  of  paper,  and  handed  it  to  the 
steward.     "  Give  that  to  Mr.  Flint." 

Captain  Passford  had  observed  when  he  visited 
the  deck  of  the  Scotian  that  she  was  well  armed, 
and  he  had  no  doubt  that  her  consort  was  similarly 
provided  for  the  business  of  war.  It  was  therefore 
of  the  highest  importance  that  the  Arran  should 
not  come  unexpectedly  upon  the  Bronx  at  a  time 
when  she  was  hardly  in  condition  to  meet  an 
enemy. 

"  Now,  Captain  Dinsmore,  may  I  trouble  you 
for  your  papers  ?  "  he  continued,  turning  to  his 
guest,  as  he  preferred  to  regard  him. 

"  I  admit  your  right  to  examine  them  under 
present  circumstances,"  replied  Captain  Dinsmore, 
as  he  delivered  the  package  to  him. 


THE   SCOTIAN   BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCKONEE      171 

"  Perhaps  we  may  simplify  and  abbreviate  this 
examination  to  some  extent,  sir,  if  you  are  so 
disposed,"  added  Christy,  as  he  looked  the  other 
full  in  the  face. 

"  I  shall  be  happy  to  have  you  do  so,  Captain 
Passford,"  replied  the  visitor  in  the  cabin,  with 
something  like  eagerness  in  his  manner.  "  You 
conduct  yourself  like  a  gentleman,  sir,  and  I  am  not 
at  all  disposed  to  embarrass  you  unnecessarily." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  appreciate  your  courtesy." 

"  I  am  afraid  it  is  not  so  much  courtesy  as  it  is 
desperation,  for  if  I  should  act  in  accordance  with 
my  feelings,  I  should  blow  my  brains  out  without 
any  delay,"  said  Captain  Dinsmore.  "  I  should 
not  say  as  much  as  this  to  any  but  a  generous 
enemy ;  but  I  feel  that  I  am  ruined,  and  that  there 
is  nothing  more  in  the  future  for  me." 

Christy  really  sympathized  with  him,  and  could 
not  help  thinking  how  he  should  feel  if  the  situa- 
tions were  reversed.  He  realized  that  the  com- 
mander of  the  Scotian  had  been  very  careless  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duty  in  permitting  any  vessel 
to  come  alongside  of  her  without  considering  that 
she  might  be  an  enemy.  This  inefficiency  was 
doubtless  the  cause  of  his  distress.     Christy  had 


172  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

kept  uppermost  in  his  mind  the  advice  of  his 
father  at  the  last  moment  before  he  sailed,  and  he 
asked  himself  if,  while  the  prisoner  was  thus  excit- 
ing his  sympathy  and  compassion,  the  latter  was 
not  expecting  the  Arran  would  appear  and  reverse 
the  fortunes  of  war. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  take  such  a  severe  view  of 
your  situation,"  added  the  captain  of  the  Bronx. 
"  But  my  first  duty  is  to  ascertain  the  character  of 
the  vessel  which  you  surrender." 

"  You  shall  have  no  doubt  in  regard  to  that, 
Captain  Passford,"  answered  the  commander  of 
the  Scotian,  proudly.  "  I  am  not  a  dickering  mer- 
chant, trying  to  make  money  out  of  the  situation 
of  my  country.  The  Scotian,  as  you  call  her,  is 
the  Confederate  steamer  Ocklockonee,  and  here  is 
my  commission  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Confederate 
Navy,"  he  added  as  he  took  the  document  from  his 
pocket  and  tendered  it  to  his  captor. 

Christy  looked  at  the  paper,  and  then  examined 
the  other  papers  in  the  packet.  They  left  no  doubt 
in  his  mind  as  to  the  character  of  the  Ocklockonee, 
if  he  had  had  any  before.  He  folded  up  the  com- 
mission and  politely  returned  it  to  the  owner. 
The  examination  was  completed  so  far  as  he  was 


THE    SCOTIA2*    BECOMES    THE   OCKLOCKONEE       173 

concerned  ;  but  Captain  Dinsmore  did  not  seem  to 
be  satisfied,  though  he  made  no  complaint  that 
anything  was  wrong  in  the  proceedings.  He  was 
evidently  a  very  proud  and  high-strung  man,  and 
appeared  to  be  unable  to  reconcile  himself  to  the 
situation. 

"  I  am  a  ruined  man  !  "  he  exclaimed  several 
times ;  and  when  he  looked  at  the  commander  of 
the  Bronx,  measuring  him  from  head  to  foot,  as  he 
had  already  done  several  times,  it  seemed  to  in- 
crease his  distress  of  mind,  and  make  him  more 
nervous  than  before. 

"  While  I  regret  that  a  brave  man  like  yourself, 
captain,  should  be  at  war  with  the  government 
which  I  honor  and  love,  I  hope  that  personally 
your  future  will  be  as  bright  as  I  am  sure  your 
merit  deserves,"  said  Christy. 

"  If  it  had  been  a  square  and  well-fought  action, 
I  should  not  feel  as  I  do  about  it.  You  will 
pardon  me,  and  understand  that  I  mean  no  dis- 
respect to  you,  captain,  but  I  look  upon  myself  as 
the  victim  of  a  Yankee  trick,"  said  Captain  Dins- 
more,  bitterly.  "  But  please  to  consider  that  I  do 
not  charge  any  blame  or  treachery  upon  you,  sir." 

"I  think  I  can  understand  your  feelings,  sir; 


174  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

but  I  cannot  see  that  in  resorting  to  strategy  to 
save  my  men,  my  conduct  has  been  in  any  manner 
dishonorable,"  replied  Christy,  holding  his  head  a 
little  higher  than  usual.  "I  should  hold  that  I 
had  been  guilty  of  misconduct  if  I  had  failed  to 
take  advantage  of  the  circumstances  under  which 
I  have  captured  the  Ocklockonee." 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you,  Captain  Passford.  I 
should  have  done  the  same  thing  myself  if  the 
opportunity  had  been  presented  to  me,"  the  guest 
hastened  to  say.  "  But  that  does  not  in  the  least 
degree  relieve  me  from  the  consequences  of  my 
own  negligence.  When  you.  are  more  at  leisure,  I 
hope  you  will  permit  me  to  make  an  explanation 
of  the  situation  in  which  I  was  placed." 

"  I  shall  be  happy  to  listen  to  anything  you  may 
desire  to  say  to  me  when  I  have  the  leisure  to  hear 
you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

Christy  hastened  on  deck  to  attend  to  the  many 
duties  required  of  him.  The  first  sight  that  pre- 
sented itself  when  he  reached  the  head  of  the 
companion  way  was  the  form  of  the  second  lieu- 
tenant, which  remained  as  it  had  fallen  from  the 
rail.     He  sent  for  Dr.  Spokely,  and  directed  him 


THE   SCOTIAN   BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCKONEE      175 

to  ascertain  whether  or  not  Pawcett  was  dead. 
While  the  surgeon  was  examining  him,  Mr.  Samp- 
son came  up-from  below  with  a  bolt  in  his  hand, 
and  touched  his  cap  to  the  commander. 

"  You  are  at  work  on  the  engine  of  the  Ock- 
lockonee,  are  you?"  asked  Christy,  and  this  in- 
quiry was  one  of  the  duties  which  had  been  on  his 
mind  before  he  left  the  cabin. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  I  have  already  examined  her 
engine ;  I  suppose  you  mean  the  Scotian,  for 
that  is  the  name  on  her  stern,  they  tell  me," 
replied  the  chief  engineer. 

"  Her  new  name  is  the  Ocklockonee." 

"I  have  examined  the  engine,"  replied  Sampson. 

"  Is  the  damage  very  serious  ?  "  asked  the  cap- 
tain anxiously. 

"  Far  from  it ;  she  has  broken  a  bolt  which  dis- 
ables her,  and  she  ought  to  have  had  one  to  replace 
it  without  more  than  five  minutes'  delay,  but  it 
appears  that  they  have  not  one  on  board ;  at  least 
none  could  be  found  when  it  was  wanted,  and 
they  were  at  work  forging  one  when  the  Bronx 
came  alongside." 

"  All  right ;  repair  the  damage  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.    I  heard  a  scuffle  in  the  engine  room  just  as 


176  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

we  were  running  alongside  the  Ockloekonee,"  said 
the  captain,  looking  inquiringly  at  the  engineer. 

"Yes,  sir;  there  was  a  scuffle  there.  Pink  M ni- 
grum was  rushing  down  the  ladder  when  I  stopped 
him.  He  tried  to  push  by  me  when  I  made  sign  i 
to  him  to  return  to  the  deck.  Then  he  give  a 
spring  at  my  throat,  and  as  I  saw  that  he  had  a 
revolver  in  his  hand,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  hit  him 
on  the  head  with  a  bar  of  iron  I  had  in  my  hand. 
He  dropped  on  the  deck.  I  put  his  revolver  in 
my  pocket,  and  stretched  him  out  on  the  sofa. 
He  did  not  move,  and  I  left  him  there." 

"I  will  send  the  surgeon  to  him,"  added  the 
captain,  as  he  went  on  board  of  the  prize,  followed 
by  Sampson. 

The  first  lieutenant  had  been  busy  on  the  deck 
of  the  vessel,  but  he  had  been  able  to  accomplish 
but  little  in  the  absence  of  definite  instructions 
from  the  captain.  All  the  seamen  were  held  in 
the  forward  part  of  the  deck,  and  there  were 
twenty-four  of  them,  including  the  petty  officers, 
but  not  the  stokers,  as  the  firemen  were  called. 
The  engineers  and  all  connected  with  their  depart- 
ment remained  below  so  far  as  could  be  learned. 
Two  officers  remained  seated  on  the  quarter  deck ; 


THE   SCOTIAN   BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCK.ONEE      177 

but  they  did  not  appear  to  be  so  thoroughly  cast 
down  as  the  captain,  doubtless  because  they  were 
not  called  upon  to  bear  the  responsibility  of  the 
capture. 

"Have  you  set  a  sharp  lookout,  Mr.  Flint?" 
asked  the  captain, 

"  The  lookout  remains  the  same  on  board  of 
the  Bronx,  though  I  have  cautioned  the  quarter- 
master on  the  fore  yard  to  keep  his  eyes  wide 
open;  and  I  have  stationed  four  men  on  board  of 
the  Scotian." 

"  Very  well ;  we  are  all  right  so  far  ;  but  if  the 
other  vessel  is  as  well  armed  as  this  one  she  is 
capable  of  giving  us  a  great  deal  of  trouble," 
replied  the  'captain. 

"  I  only  hope  we  may  find  her,"  added  Flint 
heartily. 

"We  shall  look  for  her  at  any  rate.  Bat  we 
must  get  things  regulated  on  board  of  both  vessels 
at  once,  for  I  judge  that  the  Arran  cannot  be  far 
off,  for  the  officers  hailed  us  as  the  Arran  when 
we  were  approaching,  which  shows  that  they  were 
confident  in  regard  to  her  identity,  or  they  would 
not  have  given  themselves  away  so  readily." 

"We  have  made  a  lucky  hit,  and  I  hope  we 


178  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

shall  be  able  to  reap  the  full  benefit  of  it,"  added 
Flint. 

"  We  must  provide  for  the  immediate  future 
without  any  delay,"  continued  Christy.  "  Our 
first  duty  will  be  to  search  for  the  Arran,  and  we 
can  use  the  Ocklockonee,  which  the  captain  says 
is  her  present  name,  to  assist  in  the  chase,  for  we 
have  force  enough  to  man  both  vessels,  though 
we  are  not  oversupplied  with  officers." 

"  There  are  two  more  quartermasters  who  are 
nearly  as  good  men  as  Baskirk,"  replied  the  first 
lieutenant. 

"  I  ask  no  better  officer  than  Baskirk  has 
proved  himself  to  be.  I  shall  retain  him  on  board 
of  the  Bronx,  and  for  the  present  I  shall  ask  you 
to  take  command  of  the  Ocklockonee  ;  and  you 
may  select  your  own  officers.  The  probability  is 
that,  if  we  find  the  Arran,  we  shall  have  a  fight 
with  her." 

"  Then  I  shall  make  McSpindle  my  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  Luffard  my  second,"  added  Flint,  evi- 
dently pleased  with  the  idea  of  having  even  a 
temporary  command. 

"  I  shall  appoint  Baskirk  in  your  place  on  board 
of  the  Bronx  ;  but  I  need  one  more." 


THE   SCOTIAN    BECOMES   THE   OCKLOCKONEE      179 

"  I  recommend  Amblen,  though  he  is  not  as  well 
qualified  as  the  others  I  have  named." 

"  Send  for  these  men  at  once,"  added  the  captain. 

One  of  them  was  on  the  topsail  yard  of  the 
Bronx,  but  all  of  them  soon  appeared  in  the  waist 
of  the  prize.  They  were  informed  of  the  honor 
which  had  been  conferred  upon  them,  and  were 
immediately  assigned  to  duty.  The  crew  of 
the  Ocklockonee  were  divided  between  the  two 
steamers,  and  were  put  under  guard  below. 


180  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XVI 

CAPTAIN   PASSFORD'S    FINAL   ORDERS 

A  tolerable  state  of  order  and  regularity  had, 
been  brought  out  of  the  confusion  that  prevailed 
on  board  of  the  Ocklockonee,  and  the  newly  ap- 
pointed officers  went  to  the  stations  where  they 
belonged.  Sampson  reported  the  engine  of  the 
steamer  as  in  good  order,  and  ready  for  service. 

"  Who  is  the  chief  engineer  of  the  Ocklockonee, 
Mr.  Sampson  ?  "  asked  Captain  Passford,  after  he 
had  listened  to  the  report. 

"  His  name  is  Bockburn  ;  he  is  a  Scotchman, 
and  appears  to  be  a  very  good  fellow,"  replied  the 
engineer  of  the  Bronx. 

"  Does  he  talk  at  all  about  what  has  just  hap- 
pened on  board  of  his  steamer  ?  "  asked  the  cap- 
tain, deeply  interested,  for  he  had  some  difficulty 
in  arranging  the  engineer's  department  on  board 
of  the  prize,  as  he  considered  the  new  order  of 
things. 


CAPTAIN    PASSFOKD'S   FINAL   ORDERS        181 

"  Yes,  sir ;  he  talks  at  the  rate  of  twenty  knots 
an  hour,  and  if  his  steamer  can  get  ahead  as  well 
as  his  tongue,  she  is  a  fast  one,"  replied  Sampson, 
laughing. 

"  Well,  what  does  he  say  ?  I  want  to  know 
how  he  stands  affected  by  the  present  condition 
of  affairs,"  continued  the  captain  rather  impa- 
tiently, for  he  was  too  busy  to  enjoy  the  humor 
of  the  engineer. 

"  He  is  a  thrifty  Scotchman  ;  and  I  don't  be- 
lieve he  has  any  interest  in  anything  under  the 
sun  except  his  wages ;  and  he  is  a  little  sour  on 
that  account  to  find  that  his  cruise  is  finished,  as 
he  puts  it." 

"  Send  for  him  and  his  assistants,  Mr.  Sampson." 

The  engineer  went  to  the  engine  hatch,  and 
called  the  men  below. 

"  Now  send  for  Mr.  Gawl,"  added  the  captain. 
"  He  is  your  first  assistant ;  is  he  a  competent  man 
to  run  an  engine  ?  " 

"  As  competent  as  I  am  myself  wind  the  engine 
of  this  steamer  is  exactly  like  that  of  the  Bronx, 
so  that  he  can  have  no  trouble  with  it,  if  you 
think  of  retaining  him  on  board  of  the  Oeklocko- 
nee,"  replied  Sampson. 


182  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"I  propose  to  make  him  chief,  engineer  of  her." 

"  You  could  not  find  a  better  man,"  said  Samp- 
son, as  he  went  to  summon  Gawl. 

The  three  engineers  of  the  prize  came  on  deck, 
and  the  captain  took  the  chief  aside. 

"  Mr.  Bockburn,  I  believe,  the  chief  engineer  of 
the  Ocklockonee  ?  "  said  Christy. 

"  Of  the  Scotian,  sir ;  for  I  know  nothing  of  the 
jaw-cracking  names  that  the  officers  in  the  cabin 
have  given  her,"  replied  the  engineer,  shrugging 
his  shoulders,  and  presenting  a  dissatisfied  air. 

"  Are  you  an  engineer  in  the  Confederate  Navy, 
sir  ? "  asked  Christy,  bringing  the  business  to  a 
head  at  once. 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  not,"  answered  the  engineer  very 
decidedly.  "  You  see,  captain,  that  the  Scotian 
was  sold  to  come  across  the  water,  and  I  was  out 
of  a  job,  with  a  family  to  support.  They  did  not 
say  anything  about  the  service  in  which  the  Sco- 
tian was  to  be  engaged,  but  I  understood  it. 
When  they  spoke  to  me  about  it,  I  was  glad  to 
keep  my  place  as  long  as  she  did  not  make  war  on 
the  United  Kingdom.  In  truth,  I  may  say  that  I 
did  not  care  a  fig  about  the  quarrel  in  the  States, 
and  was  as  ready  to  run  an  engine  on  one  side  as 


CAPTAIN   PASSFORD'S   FINAL   ORDERS        183 

the  other  as  long  as  I  got  my  wages,  and  was 
able  to  support  my  family  handsomely,  as,  thank 
God,  I  have  always  done.  I  am  not  a  student  of 
politics,  and  I  only  read  enough  in  the  newspapers 
to  know  what  is  going  on  in  the  world.  I  always 
find  that  I  get  ahead  better  when  I  mind  my  own 
business,  and  it  can't  be  said  that  Andy  Bockburn 
ever — " 

"Precisely  so,  Mr.  Bockburn;  but  I  will  hear 
the  rest  of  your  story  at  another  time,"  interposed 
the  captain  when  he  found  that  the  man  was  faith- 
ful to  the  description  Sampson  had  given  of  his 
talking  powers. 

"  You  understand  perfectly  what  has  transpired 
on  board  of  the  Scotian  as  you  choose  still  to  call 
her ;  in  a  word,  that  she  is  a  prize  to  the  United 
States  steamer  Bronx  ?  " 

"  I  understand  it  all  as  clearly  as  though  I  read 
it  in  a  book ;  and  it  was  all  on  account  of  the 
want  of  a  bolt  that  I  was  sure  I  put  on  board  of 
the  vessel  before  she  sailed ;  and  I  am  just  as  sure 
of  it  now  as  I  ever  was.  But  then,  you  see,  cap- 
tain, a  man  can't  always  be  sure  of  the  men  under 
him,  though  he  may  be  sure  of  himself.  I  have  no 
doubt—" 


184  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Short  yarns,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Bockburn. 
You  understand  the  situation,  and  I  will  add  that 
I  intend  to  use  this  vessel  as  well  as  the  Bronx  in 
the  service  of  my  government.  Are  you  willing 
to  do  duty  on  board  of  her  in  any  capacity  in 
which  I  may  place  you  in  the  engineer  depart- 
ment, provided  you  receive  the  same  wages  as 
before  ?  " 

"  I  am,  sir ;  and  I  was  paid  a  month  in  advance, 
so  that  I  shall  not  lose  anything,"  chuckled  the 
careful  Scotchman. 

"  If  you  are  regularly  appointed,  though  I  can 
only  give  you  a  temporary  position,  in  addition  to 
your  wages,  you  will  be  entitled  to  your  share  in 
any  prize  we  may  hereafter  capture."     -. 

"  Then  I  will  take  any  position  you  will  please 
to  give  me,"  answered  the  engineer,  apparently 
delighted  with  the  prospect  thus  held  out  to 
him. 

"I  shall  appoint  you  first  assistant  engineer  of 
the  Bronx,"  continued  the  captain,  not  a  little  to 
the  astonishment  of  Flint,  who  wondered  that  he 
was  not  assigned  to  the  Ocklockonee. 

"  I  am  quite  satisfied,  captain,"  replied  Bock- 
burn, bowing  and  smiling,  for  wages  were  more 


CAPTAIN    PASSFOKD'S    FINAL    ORDERS        185 

than  rank  to  him.  "  I  will  bring  up  my  kit  at 
once,  sir.  You  see,  captain,  when  a  man  has  a 
family  he  — " 

"  Precisely  as  you  say,  Mr.  Bockburn,"  inter- 
rupted the  captain.  "  You  will  report  to  Mr. 
Sampson  in  the  engine  room  of  the  Bronx  for 
further  orders." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  supposed  I  was  out  of  a 
job  from  this  out,  and  I  was  feeling  —  " 

"  Feel  your  way  to  the  engine  room  of  the 
Bronx.     Mr.  Gawl,"  the  captain  proceeded. 

"  On  duty,  sir,"  replied  the  first  assistant  engi- 
neer of  the  Bronx,  touching  his  cap  as  respectfully 
as  though  the  commander  had  been  forty  years  old. 

"You  are  appointed  temporarily  as  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  O^klockonee,  and  3-011  will  take  your 
place  in  the  engine  room  as  soon  as  possible," 
said  the  captain,  as  brusquely  as  though  favors 
cost  nothing1. 

Mr.  Gawl  was  taken  to  the  engine  room  and 
introduced  to  the  first  and  secoud  assistants,  Rowe 
and  Leeds,  and  was  kindly  received  by  them,  for, 
like  their  late  chief,  the  question  of  wages  was  the 
only  one  that  affected  them.  They  promised  to 
be  faithful  to  the  government  they  were  to  serve, 


186  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

and  to  discharge  their  duties  faithfully  under-  the 
direction  of  the  new  chief.  The  two  officers  on 
the  quarter  deck  had  watched  all  these  proceed- 
ings with  interest.  They  were  the  only  persons 
remaining  on  board  who  had  not  been  disposed  of 
in  some  manner. 

Christy  approached  them  while  Captain  Flint, 
as  he  was  now  to  be  called  by  courtesy,  was  mak- 
ing his  final  arrangements  with  the  crew  that  had 
been  assigned  to  the  prize.  Both  of  the  officers 
bowed  civilly  to  the  commander  as  he  presented 
himself  on  the  quarter  deck.  They  were  older 
men  than  Captain  Dinsmore,  though  neither  was 
over  forty-five.  Christy  suspected  that  they  were 
not  Confederate  officers  as  soon  as  he  had  a  chance 
to  look  them  over. 

"  May  I  ask,  gentlemen,  if  you  are  officers  of 
the  Confederate  Navy  ? "  asked  Christy,  as  he 
looked  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  men. 

"  We  are  not,  sir,"  replied  the  senior  of  them. 

"  Of  course  you  are  aware  that  you  are  serving 
in  a  Confederate  man-of-war?  "  added  Christy. 

"  I  should  say  that  was  hardly  true  up  to  date. 
The  captain  holds  a  commission  in  the  Confederate 
Navy,  but  the  ship  has  never  been  into  a  Confcd- 


CAPTAIN   PASSFORD'S   FINAL   ORDERS        187 

erate  port,  Captain  Passford,"  replied  the  senior, 
who  had  learned  the  commander's  name. 

"  As  you  call  me  by  name,  perhaps  you  will 
enable  me  to  do  as  much  with  you,"  added 
Christy. 

"  My  name  is  Farley  Lippard ;  I  shipped  as  first 
officer  of  the  Scotian,"  replied  the  senior. 

"  And  mine  is  Edward  Sangston  ;  and  I  shipped 
as  second  officer  of  the  steamer." 

"  We  shipped  only  for  the  voyage,  and  were 
told  that  we  could  not  retain  our  situations  after 
the  ship's  company  was  fully  organized,"  added 
Mr.  Lippard. 

"  Then  I  hope  you  were  paid  in  advance,  as  the 
engineers  were,"  said  Christy  with  a  smile. 

"  We  were,  sir,  thank  yon,"  added  the  first 
officer.  "  Though  we  were  told  that  we  could 
not  obtain  any  rank  in  the  navy  because  there 
were  more  officers  than  ships,  the  agent  said  we 
should  find  plenty  of  employment  on  board  of 
blockade  runners  coming  out  with  cotton." 

"I  suppose  you  are  Englishmen?"  said  the 
captain. 

"  Scotchmen,  sir,  but  British  subjects." 

"I  cannot  put  you  on  shore  and  I  may  not  have 


188  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

an  opportunity  to  ship  you  to  your  homes  by 
another  vessel.  I  shall  leave  you  on  board  of  the 
Ocklockonee,  and  the  acting  commander  will  as- 
sign to  you  such  quarters  in  the  cabin  as  may  be 
at  his  command,"  continued  Christy.  "  It  is  only 
necessary  that  I  should  say  I  expect  you  to  remain 
neutral,  whatever  occurs  on  board  of  the  steamer." 

"  That  is  understood,"  replied  Mr.  Lippard. 

"You  will  be  regarded  as  passengers;  but  of 
course  if  you  commit  any  act  hostile  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  you  will  be  consid- 
ered as  enemies,  and  treated  as  prisoners  of  war," 
Christy  proceeded.  "  I  hope  the  situation  is  clearly 
understood." 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  we  have  no  interest  in  the 
quarrel  in  the  States,  and  we  are  not  in  the  pay 
of  the  Confederacy,  as  they  call  it,"  replied  Mr. 
Lippard. 

"  Then  there  will  be  no  trouble.  Captain 
Flint,"  called  the  commander. 

Flint,  who  had  been  very  busy  appointing  petty 
officers  and  organizing  the  new  crew,  came  at  the 
call  and  was  introduced  to  the  late  officers  of 
the  prize.  The  understanding  which  had  just 
been  reached  in  regard  to  them  was   repeated  for 


CAPTAIN    PASSFOHD'S    FINAL   OKDEKS        189 

the  benefit  of  the  new  captain.  He  was  quite  as 
pliable  as  his  superior  had  always  been,  and  there 
was  no  indication  that  any  friction  would  result 
from  their  presence  on  board  of  the  prize,  now 
temporarily  put  into  the  service  of  the  navy. 

"  Have  you  made  all  your  arrangements,  Cap- 
tain Flint  ?  "  asked  Christy  when  he  was  all  ready 
to  return  to  the  Bronx. 

"I  have  very  nearly  completed  them,  Captain 
Passford ;  and  I  can  easily  finish  them  after  we 
get  under  way,"  replied  Flint.  t;  All  I  need  before 
we  part  is  my  orders." 

"From  all  that  I  can  learn,  the  Arran  must  be 
to  the  eastward  of  the  Ocklockonee,"  said  Christy, 
who  had  given  this  subject  all  the  thought  his  time 
would  permit.  "  The  officers  of  the  prize  hailed 
the  Bronx  coming  from  that  direction,  and  that 
indicates  that  she  was  expected  from  that  quarter. 
Our  coming  from  that  way  seems  to  have  made 
Captain  Dinsmore  confident  that  the  Bronx  was  the 
Arran.  I  shall  lay  the  course  of  my  ship  to  the 
northeast,  while  you  will  proceed  to  the  southwest. 
After  you  have  gone  fifty  miles  in  that  direction, 
you  will  make  a  course  due  east,  as  I  shall  also 
after  I  have  made  the  same  distance.     Having  ran 


190  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

due  east  twenty  miles,  you  will  run  to  the  north- 
east, as  I  shall  to  the  southwest.  If  you  discover 
the  Arran  fire  your  midship  gun,  and  I  will  do 
the  same." 

Christy  shook  hands  with  Flint,  and  went  on 
board  of  the  Bronx.  The  order  was  given  on 
board  of  both  vessels  to  cast  off  the  grapnels ;  the 
gong  bell  sounded  in  each  engine  room,  and  both 
vessels  went  ahead,  the  Bronx  coming  about  to 
her  new  course. 


A   COUPLE    OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      191 


CHAPTER   XVII 

A   COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS 

The  fog  had  been  very  variable  in  its  density, 
and  had  been  lifting  and  settling  at  times  during 
the  day  of  the  capture.  By  the  time  the  two 
vessels  were  ready  to  get  under  way,  it  had  be- 
come more  solid  than  before.  The  night  had 
come,  and  the  darkness  with  it,  at  about  the  same 
time.  The  lookouts  were  still  in  their  places ; 
but  so  far  as  seeing  anything  was  concerned  they 
might  as  well  have  been  in  the  hold.  If  the  Arran 
was  still  in  the  vicinity,  as  no  doubt  she  was,  the 
Bronx  might  run  into  her.  Wherever  she  was, 
it  was  well  assured  that  her  officers  knew  nothing 
of  the  capture  of  the  Ocklockonee,  for  not  a  great 
gun  had  been  discharged,  and  the  combat  had 
been  so  quickly  decided  that  there  had  been  very 
little  noise  of  any  kind. 

Everything  worked  without  friction  on  board 
of   the   Bronx ;    and   Captain    Passford    felt   even 


192  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

more  elastic  than  usual.  Doubtless  the  capture 
he  had  just  made  afforded  him  a  good  deal  of 
inspiration ;  but  the  fact  that  the  mystery  of  the 
deaf  mute  and  the  second  lieutenant  had  been 
solved,  and  the  unfathomable  catastrophe  which 
their  presence  on  board  threatened  had  been 
escaped  was  a  great  source  of  relief. 

The  two  conspirators  were  disabled  and  confined 
to  the  sick  bay,  and  they  were  not  likely  to  make 
any  trouble  at  present.  If  they  had  had  any  defi- 
nite plan  on  which  they  intended  to  act,  they  had 
certainly  lost  their  opportunities,  for  the  visit  of 
Hungerford  to  the  engine  room  of  the  Bronx,  no 
doubt  for  the  purpose  of  disabling  the  machinery, 
and  the  effort  of  Pawcett  to  warn  the  officers  of 
the  prize,  had  been  simply  acts  of  desperation, 
adopted  after  they  had  evidently  failed  in  every 
other  direction. 

Pawcett  was  not  really  a  loyal  officer,  and 
his  expression  and  manners  had  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  both  the  captain  and  the  first  lieutenant. 
The  deaf  mute  had  been  brought  on  board  in  order 
to  obtain  information,  and  he  had  been  very  dili- 
gent in  carrying  out  his  part  of  the  programme. 
As  Christy  thought  the  matter  over,  seated  at  his 


A   COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      193 

supper  in  his  cabin,  he  thought  he  owed  more  to 
the  advice  of  his  father  at  their  parting  than  to 
anything  else.  He  had  kept  his  own  counsel  in 
spite  of  the  difficulties,  and  had  done  more  to 
blind  the  actors  in  the  conspiracy  than  to  enlighten 
them.  He  had  hoped  before  he  parted  with  the 
prize  for  the  present  to  obtain  some  information 
in  regard  to  the  Arran  ;  but  he  had  too  much  self- 
respect  to  ask  the  officers  of  the  Ocklockonee  in 
regard  to  such  matters. 

The  seamen  who  had  been  spotted  as  adherents 
of  the  late  second  lieutenant  had  done  nothing, 
for  there  had  been  nothing  that  they  could  do 
under  the  circumstances.  Spoors  and  two  others 
of  them  had  been  drafted  into  the  other  vessel, 
while  the  other  three  remained  on  board  of  the 
Bronx.  They  were  not  regarded  as  very  danger- 
ous enemies,  and  they  were  not  in.  condition 
to  undertake  anything  in  the  absence  of  their 
leaders. 

Christy  had  inquired  in  regard  to  the  condition 
of  Pawcett  and  Hungerford  before  he  went  to  his 
cabin,  and  Dr.  Spokeley  informed  him  that  neither 
of  them  would  be  in  condition  to  do  duty  on  either 
side  for  a  considerable  period.     They  were  in  no 


194  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

danger  under  careful  treatment,  but  both  of  them 
were  too  seriously  injured  to  trouble  their  heads 
with  any  exciting  subjects. 

"  Good  evening,  Captain  Dinsmore,"  Christy 
said,  when  he  went  into  his  cabin,  after  he  had 
attended  to  all  the  duties  that  required  present 
attention.  "  I  hope  you  are  feeling  better  this 
evening." 

"  Hardly  better,  Captain  Passford,  though  I  am 
trying  to  reconcile  myself  to  my  situation,"  re- 
plied the  late  captain  of  the  Ocklockonee. 

"  Supper  is  all  ready,  sir,"  interposed  Dave,  as 
he  passed  by  the  captain,  after  he  had  brought  in 
the  dishes  from  the  galley. 

"  Take  a  seat  at  the  table,  Captain  Dinsmore," 
continued  Christy,  placing  a  chair  for  him,  and 
looking  over  the  table  to  see  what  cheer  he  had  to 
offer  to  his  guest. 

It  looked  as  though  the  cook,  aware  that  the 
commander  had  a  guest,  or  thinking  that  he  de- 
served a  better  supper  than  usual  after  the  cap- 
ture of  a  prize,  had  done  his  best  in  honor  of  the 
occasion.  The  broiled  chickens  looked  especially 
inviting,  and  other  dishes  were  quite  tempting  to 
a  man  who  was  two  hours  late  at  the  meal. 


A   COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      195 

"  Thank  you,  captain,"  replied  the  guest,  as  he 
took  the  seat  assigned  to  him.  "I  can't  say  that 
I  have  a  very  fierce  appetite  after  the  misfortune 
that  has  befallen  me  ;  but  I  am  none  the  less  in- 
debted to  you  tor  your  courtesy  and  kindness." 

"  I  acknowledge  that  I  am  in  condition  to  be 
very  happy  this  evening,  Captain  Dinsmore,  and  I 
can  hardly  expect  to  be  an  agreeable  companion  to 
one  with  a  burden  on  his  mind ;  but  I  can  assure 
you  of  my  personal  sympathy." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  captain.  I  should  like  to 
ask  if  many  of  the  officers  of  the  old  navy  are 
young  gentlemen  like  yourself? "  inquired  the 
guest,  looking  at  his  host  very  curiously. 

"There  are  a  great  many  young  officers  in  the 
navy  at  the  present  time,  for  the  exigency  has 
pushed  forward  the  older  ones,  and  there  are  not 
enough  of  them  to  take  all  the  positions.  But  we 
shall  all  of  us  grow  older,"  replied  Christy  good- 
naturedly,  as  he  helped  the  officer  to  a  piece  of 
the  chicken,  which  had  just  come  from  the  galley 
fire. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  older  than  you  appear  to  be," 
suggested  the  guest.  "  I  should  judge  that  you 
were  not  over  twenty,  or  at  least  not  much  more." 


196  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  I  am  eighteen,  sir,  though,  unlike  a  lady,  I  try 
to  make  myself  as  old  as  I  can." 

"  Eighteen  !  "  exclaimed  Captain  Dinsmore. 

But  Christy  told  something  of  his  experience  on 
board  of  the  Bellevite  which  had  prepared  him  for 
his  duties,  and  his  case  was  rather  exceptional. 

"  You  have  physique  enough  for  a  man  of 
twenty-five,"  added  the  guest.  "  And  you  have 
been  more  fortunate  than  I  have." 

"  And  I  have  been  as  unfortunate  as  you  are, 
for  I  have  seen  the  inside  of  a  Confederate  prison, 
though  I  concluded  not  to  remain  there  for  any 
length  of  time,"  added  Christy,  laughing. 

"  You  are  a  fortunate  young  man,  and  I  do  not 
belong  to  that  class,"  said  Captain  Dinsmore,  shak- 
ing his  head.  "  I  have  lost  my  steamer,  and  I 
suppose   that  will  finish  my  career." 

"  Perhaps  not ; "  but  Christy  was  satisfied  that 
he  had  lost  his  vessel  by  a  want  of  care,  and  he 
could  not  waste  any  compliments  upon  him, 
though  he  had  profited  by  the  other's  carelessness. 

"  I  was  confident  when  the  Bronx  approached 
the  Ocklockonee  that  she  was  another  vessel," 
continued  the  guest. 

"  What  vessel  did  you  take  her  to  be  ?  " 


A   COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      197 

"  You  will  excuse  me  if  I  decline  to  go  into 
particulars.  I  can  only  say  that  I  was  sure  your 
steamer  was  another,  and  I  had  no  suspicion  that 
I  was  wrong  till  that  man  mounted  the  rail  of  the 
Bronx,  and  began  to  tell  us  to  the  contrary,"  re- 
plied Captain  Dinsmore.  "  A  bolt  in  the  engine 
was  broken,  and  the  engineer  could  not  find 
another  on  board.  We  expected  to  obtain  one 
when  the  Bronx  approached  us.  I  was  deceived ; 
and  that  is  the  reason  why  I  am  here  instead  of 
in  the  cabin  of  my  own  ship." 

The  guest  seemed  to  feel  a  little  better  after  he 
had  made  this  explanation,  though  it  contained 
nothing  new  to  the  commander  of  the  Bronx. 
Possibly  the  excellent  supper,  of  which  he  had 
partaken  heartily  in  spite  of  his  want  of  appetite, 
had  influenced  his  mind  through  the  body.  He 
had  certainly  become  more  cheerful,  though  his 
burden  was  no  lighter  than  when  he  came  on 
board  of  the  Bronx.  Christy  was  also  light- 
hearted,  not  alone  because  he  had  been  so  suc- 
cessful, but  because  he  felt  that  he  was  no  longer 
compelled  to  watch  the  conspirators. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  impose  any  restric- 
tions upon  you,  Captain  Dinsmore,"  said  Christy, 


198  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

as  he  rose  from  the  supper  table.  "  The  circum- 
stances compel  me  to  request  you  to  remain  in  my 
cabin." 

"  Of  course  I  am  subject  to  your  will  and  pleas- 
ure, Captain  Passford,"  replied  the  guest. 

"You  are  a  gentleman,  sir,  and  if  you  will 
simply  give  me  your  word  to  remain  here,  there 
will  be  no  occasion  for  any  unpleasantness.  It  is 
possible  that  we  may  go  into  action  at  any  time ; 
and  in  that  case  you  can  remain  where  you  please 
below." 

"  I  give  you  my  word  that  I  will  remain  below 
until  I  notify  you  of  my  intention  to  do  other- 
wise," replied  the  prisoner,  tfliough  Christy  pre- 
ferred to  regard  him  as  his  guest. 

"  I  am  entirely  satisfied.  I  shall  be  obliged  to 
berth  you  in  the  ward  room,  and  you  are  at  liberty 
to  pass  your  time  as  you  please  in  these  two 
apartments.  I  shall  be  happy  to  introduce  you 
to  the  first  lieutenant,"  added  the  captain,  as  he 
led  the  way  to  the  ward  room. 

Mr.  Baskirk  received  the  prisoner  very  politely, 
a  berth  was  assigned  to  him,  and  Christy  went 
on  deck.  It  was  as  dark  as  Egypt  there,  but 
Mr.   Amblen,  the  new  acting   second  lieutenant, 


A   COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      199 

on  the  bridge,  said  the  wind  was  hauling  to  the 
westward,  and  he  thought  there  would  be  a  change 
of  weather  before  morning.  Mr.  Baskirk  had 
made  all  his  appointments  of  petty  officers  ren- 
dered necessary  by  sending  a  portion  of  the  sea- 
men to  the  Ocklockonee.  Everything  was  in 
good  order  on  deck,  and  Christy  next  went  down 
to  the  sick  bay,  where  Hungerford  and  Pawcett 
were  the  only  occupants.  He  found  Dr.  Spoke- 
ley  there,  and  inquired  in  regard  to  the  condition 
of  the  wounded  men.  The  surgeon  described  the 
wounds  of  his  patients,  and  pointed  them  out  to 
the  captain. 

"  Does  Mr.  Hungerford  talk  any  now  ?  "  asked 
Christy. 

"  Who  is  Mr.  Hungerford  ?  "  asked  the  doctor. 

"He  is  the  deaf  mute.  He  was  the  first  officer 
of  the  Confederate  steamer  Yazoo  when  we  cap- 
tured her  in  the  Bellevite  last  year,"  replied  the 
captain,  upon  whom  the  eyes  of  the  wounded  man 
were  fixed  all  the  time. 

"  He  has  not  spoken  yet  in  my  hearing,  though 
I  have  thought  that  he  could  hear." 

"  His  duty  on  board  of  the  Bronx  was  to  obtain 
information,  and  he  procured  a  good  deal  of  it, 


200  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

though  not  all  of  it  was  as  reliable  as  it  might 
have  been." 

"  Indeed  !  Then  he  was  a  traitor,"  added  the 
surgeon. 

"  He  is  a  gentleman  in  spite  of  the  role  he  has 
been  playing,  and  I  am  soriy  he  has  been  injured, 
though  Mr.  Sampson  obeyed  my  order  when  he 
struck  him  down  in  the  engine  room." 

"  Struck  me  from  behind  like  an  assassin,"  added 
Hungerford  feebly. 

"  Did  you  expect, to  arrange  a  duel  with  him 
at  such  a  time,  Mr.  Hungerford  ?  "  asked  Christy. 
"  You  went  into  the  engine  room  to  disable  the 
machine  when  you  found  you  could  do  nothing 
else.  If  you  had  returned  to  the  deck  when  the 
engineer  told  you  to  do  so,  he  would  not  have 
disabled  you.  You  crowded  past  him,  and  then 
he  did  his  duty." 

"  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  serving  with  men 
who  were  square  and  above  board,"  muttered 
Hungerford. 

"  Was  that  where  you  learned  to  listen  at  my 
cabin  door,  and  to  conceal  yourself  under  the 
berth  in  my  state  room  ?  "  asked  Christy,  rather 
sharply  for   him.      "  Is  that  the  reason  why  Mr. 


A    COUPLE   OF   ASTONISHED   CONSPIRATORS      201 

Pawcett  wished  to  have  you  do  the  copying  of  my 
papers  ?  " 

"  I  can  only  say  that  I  tried  to  do  my  duty  to 
my  country  and  I  have  failed,"  added  Hungerford, 
as  he  turned  over  in  his  berth,  and  showed  his 
back  to  the  captain. 

"May  I  ask,  Captain  Passford,  who  told  you 
my  name  ?  "  asked  the  late  second  lieutenant,  who 
seemed  to  be  confounded  by  what  he  had  heard. 

"  You  called  Mr.  Hungerford  by  his  real  name, 
and  he  called  you  by  yours,  in  the  interview  you 
had  with  him  the  first  night  out  from  New  York. 
I  have  known  you  from  the  first,"  replied  Christy. 

Pawcett  was  as  disgusted  as  the  other  had  been, 
and  he  turned  his  face  to  the  ceiling  of  his  berth. 
Christy  was  satisfied  that  these  men  would  give 
him  no  more  trouble  at  present. 


202  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

A  TRIANGULAR   ACTION   WITH   GREAT   GUNS 

When  Mr.  Baskirk  went  on  deck  to  take  his 
watch  at  midnight,  the  fog  had  disappeared,  and 
a  fresh  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  westward. 
This  change  was  reported  to  the  captain,  and  he 
went  on  deck.  No  sail  had  been  seen  since  the 
fog  cleared  off,  and  Christy  returned  to  his  state 
room,  where  he  was  soon  asleep  again.  He  was 
called,  as  he  had  directed,  at  four  in  the  morning, 
but  no  change  in  the  weather  was  reported,  and 
no  sail  had  been  seen. 

At  four  bells  in  the  morning  watch  two  sails 
were  reported  to  him,  one  dead  ahead,  and  the 
other  on  the  port  beam.  He  hastened  to  the  deck, 
and  found  Mr.  Amblen  using  his  spyglass,  and 
trying  to  make  out  the  distant  sails.  The  one 
at  the  northeast  of  the  Bronx  was  making  a  long 
streak  of  black  smoke  on  the  sky,  and  there  was 


TRIANGULAR   ACTION    WITH   GREAT   GUNS      203 

no  such  appearance  over  the  other.  Both  were 
steamers. 

"  The  one  ahead  of  us  is  the  Ocklockonee,"  said 
Captain  Passford,  after  he  had  used  the  spyglass. 
"  I  have  no  doubt  the  other  is  the  Arran.  Prob- 
ably she  has  a  new  name  by  this  time,  but  I 
have  not  heard  it  yet.  Pass  the  word  for  Mr. 
Ambleton." 

This  was  the  gunner,  and  he  was  directed  to 
tire  a  single  shot,  blank,  from  the  midship  gun. 
This  was  immediately  done,  and  was  the  signal 
agreed  upon  with  Flint  if  either  discovered  the 
Arran.  It  was  promptly  answered  by  a  similar 
discharge  on  board  of  the  Ocklockonee,  indicating 
that  she  had  seen  the  steamer  in  question. 

"  Now,  make  her  course  southeast,  Mr.  Amblen," 
said  Christy,  after  the  two  signals  had  been  made. 

"Southeast,  sir,"  responded  the  second  lieuten- 
ant, giving  the  course  to  the  quartermaster  at  the 
wheel. 

The  commander  of  the  Ocklockonee  changed  his 
course  as  soon  as  the  Bronx  had  done  so.  Both 
steamers  were  headed  directly  towards  the  sail  in 
the  southeast,  and  both  were  running  for  the  apex 
of  the  triangle  where  the  third  steamer  was  located. 


204  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

The  captain  visited  every  part  of  the  vessel,  and 
gave  orders  to  have  breakfast  served  at  once,  for 
he  expected  there  would  be  lively  times  before 
many  hours.  Everything  was  overhauled,  and 
put  in  order.  At  eight  bells,  when  Mr.  Baskirk 
took  the  deck,  the  captain  did  not  care  how  soon 
the  battle  began.  Everything  was  ready  and 
waiting,  and  he  went  below  for  his  breakfast. 

From  delicacy"  or  some  other  motive  Captain 
Dinsmore  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the  ward 
room ;  but  he  was  called  to  breakfast  with  the 
commander.  Both  captains  were  as  polite  to  each 
other  as  they  had  been  the  evening  before,  but  it 
was  evident  to  Christy  that  his  guest  was  quite 
uneasy,  as  though  he  had  discovered  what  had 
transpired  on  deck ;  and  the  movements  there 
were  quite  enough  to  inform  him  without  a  word 
from  any  one.  He  had  not  asked  a  question  of 
any  person  on  board ;  and  it  was  impossible  for 
him  to  know  that  a  sail  supposed  to  be  the  Arran 
was  in  sight. 

"  I  have  heard  some  firing  this  morning,  Captain 
Passford,"  said  he  as  he  seated  himself  at  the 
table,  and  watched  the  expression  of  his  host's 
countenance. 


TRIANGULAR   ACTION    WITH   GREAT   GUNS      205 

"Merely  a  couple  of  signals;  the  distant  shot 
came  from  the  Ocklockonee,"  replied  Christy 
lightly. 

"  I  thought  it  possible  that  you  had  fallen  in 
with  another  steamer,"  added  the  guest. 

"  I  have  considered  it  more  than  possible,  and 
within  the  limits  of  probability,  that  we  should  fall 
in  with  another  steamer  ever  since  we  ran  so  op- 
portunely upon  the  Scotian,  as  "she  was  formerly 
called." 

"  Opportunely  for  you,  but  very  inopportunely 
for  me,"  added  Captain  Dinsmore  with  a  faint 
smile. 

"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  we  have  passed 
beyond  both  possibility  and  probability,  and  come 
into  the  region  of  fact,"  continued  Christy. 

"  Then  you  have  made  out  a  sail?"  asked  the 
guest  anxiously. 

"  We  have ;  a  steamer  on  our  port  beam ;  and  I 
am  reasonably  confident  it  is  the  vessel  you  sup- 
posed was  coming  alongside  the  Ocklockonee  last 
evening." 

"Indeed?"'  added  the  guest,  as  though  he  did 
not  know  just  what  to  say,  and  did  not  mean  to 
commit  himself. 


206  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  In  other  words,  I  am  almost  sure  this  steamer 
is  the  Arran,  though  doubtless  you  have  changed 
her  name,"  said  Christy,  as  he  helped  the  other 
from  the  choicest  dish  on  the  table. 

"  The  Arran  ? "  repeated  Captain  Dinsmore, 
manifesting  but  not  expressing  his  surprise  that 
his  companion  in  a  different  service  from  his  own 
knew  this  name. 

"  Perhaps  you  can  give  me  her  later  name,  as  I 
have  no  doubt  she  is  or  will  be  called  after  some 
southern  river,  which  is  quite  proper,  and  entirely 
patriotic.  Perhaps  she  is  called  the  Perdido,  which 
is  not  very  far  from  Perdition,  where  I  shall  do 
my  best  to  send  her  unless  she  surrenders  within 
a  reasonable  time,  or  runs  away  from  me,"  said 
Captain  Passford  lightly.  "  Is  your  coffee  quite 
right,  Captain  Dinsmore  ?  " 

"  It  is  very  good  indeed,  captain,  thank  you." 

"Perhaps  it  is  too  strong  for  you,  like  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  you  would  prefer  it 
weaker,"  suggested  Christy. 

"  It  is  quite  right  as  it  is,  and,  like  the  United 
States  Navy  of  which  you  speak,  it  will  be  used 
up  in  a  short  time,"  replied  the  guest  as  pleasantly 
as  the  captain  of  the  Bronx. 


TRIANGULAR   ACTION    WITH   GREAT   GUNS      207 

"  That  is  yet  to  be  settled,"  laughed  Christy. 
"  Well,  captain,  the  coffee  is  settled,  and  that  is 
more  than  can  be  said  of  our  navy,  which  will  be 
as  clear  as  this  in  due  time." 

"  I  thought  it  best  to  inform  you  that  we  might 
be  in  action  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours,  and 
you  were  to  notify  me  in  case  you  wished  to 
change  your  status  on  board,"  added  Christy  more 
seriously. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  Captain  Passford, 
for  your  courtesy  and  kindness,  but  I  see  no 
reason  to  change  my  position.  I  will  still  con- 
fine myself  to  the  cabin  and  ward  room.  I  cannot 
wish  you  success  in  the  action  in  which  you  are 
about  to  engage,  for  it  would  break  my  heart  to 
have  the  Arran,  as  you  call  her,  captured,"  added 
the  guest. 

"I  think  you  may  fairly  count  upon  such  a 
result,"  replied  Christy  confidently. 

"  You  must  excuse  me,  Captain  Passford,  but  I 
think  you  are  reckoning  without  your  host,  and 
therein  your  youth  makes  its  only  manifestation,' " 
said  the  guest,  shaking  his  head.  "I  can  only 
say  that,  when  you  are  a  prisoner  on  board  of 
the    Escambia,   1    shall   do  my  best  to  have  you 


208  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

as  handsomely  treated  as  I  have  been  in  your 
cabin." 

"  Thank  you,  captain ;  I  assure  you  I  shall 
appreciate  any  courtesy  and  kindness  extended 
to  me.  The  Escambia  is  her  name  then.  That 
is  not  so  near  Perdition  as  the  word  I  suggested, 
and  I  am  glad  it  is  not  so  long  as  the  name  you 
gave  the  Scotian.  I  shall  expect  to  come  across 
an  Apalachicola  in  due  time.  They  are  all 
very  good  names,  but  we  shall  be  compelled  to 
change  them  when  they  fall  into  our  hands,"  said 
Christy. 

"  I  have  plenty  of  spare  time  on  my  hands  just 
now,  and  perhaps  I  had  better  think  up  a  new 
name  for  the  Bronx ;  and  Apalachicola  would  be 
as  good  as  any  other.  I  wonder  you  did  not  call 
her  the  Nutcracker,  for  her  present  name  rather 
suggests  that  idea." 

"  I  have  heard  a  similar  remark  before  ;  but  she 
is  not  big  enough  for  such  a  long  name  as  the  one 
you  suggest,  and  you  would  have  to  begin  to  pro- 
nounce it  before  breakfast  in  order  to  get  it  out 
before  the  dog  watches,"  said  Christy,  as  he  rose 
from  the  table  and  went  on  deck. 

The  (hot  thin^  he  noticed  when  he  came  on  the 


TRIANGULAR  ACTION   WITH   GREAT   GUNS      209 

bridge  was  that  the  Ocklockonee  was  headed  to 
intercept  the  Bronx.  Captain  Flint  signalled  that 
he  wished  to  speak  to  him,  and  he  changed  his 
course  to  comply  with  the  request.  At  the  end  of 
another  hour  they  came  together,  the  Arran  being 
still  at  least  four  miles  distant,  going  very  slowly 
if  she  was  moving  at  all. 

Christy  had  written  out  his  orders  for  Captain 
Flint  in  full.  So  far  as  he  had  been  able  to  judge 
of  the  speed  of  the  other  steamer,  it  appeared  to 
be  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Bronx.  He  had 
directed  the  Ocklockonee  to  get  to  the  southward 
of  the  Arran.  A  boat  was  sent  to  her  with  the 
orders,  and  Flint  immediately  proceeded  to  obey 
them.  The  Bronx  slowed  down  her  engines  to 
enable  the  other  to  gain  her  position ;  but  the 
Arran  did  not  seem  to  be  willing  to  permit  her  to 
do  this,  and  gave  chase  to  her  at  once. 

The  commander  of  the  Bronx  met  this  change 
by  one  on  his  own  part,  and  went  ahead  with  all 
the  speed  he  could  get  out  of  her.  The  Confeder- 
ate steamer  was  farther  to  the  eastward  than  either 
of  the  other  two,  and  after  the  changes  of  position 
which  Christy  had  brought  about  in  speaking  the 
Ocklockonee,  the  Arran  was  nearly  southeast  of 


210  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

both  of  the  others.  Flint  went  directly  to  the 
south,  and  Christy  ran  for  the  enemy. 

All  hands  had  been  beaten  to  quarters  on  board 
of  the  Bronx,  and  the  captain  was  on  the  bridge, 
watching  with  the  most  intense  interest  the  prog- 
ress of  the  other  two  vessels.  It  was  soon 
apparent  to  him  that  the  Ocklockonee  could  not 
get  into  the  position  to  which  she  had  been 
ordered  under  present  circumstances,  for  the 
enemy  was  giving  his  whole  attention  to  her. 

"  There  goes  a  gun  from  the  enemy  !  "  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Amblen,  as  a  puff  of  smoke  rose 
from  the  forward  deck  of  the  Aryan. 

"  The  shot  struck  in  the  water,"  added  Christy 
a  moment  later ;  "  but  the  two  vessels  are  within 
range.  There  is  the  first  shot  from  the  Ocklocko- 
nee  !     Captain  Flint  is  not  asleep." 

The  firing  was  done  on  both  vessels  with  the 
heavy  midship  guns,  and  doubtless  the  calibre  of 
the  pieces  was  the  same ;  but  Flint  was  the  more 
fortunate  of  the  two,  for  his  shot  struck  the 
smokestack  of  the  enemy,  or  partly  upset  it. 
Christy  thought  it  was  time  for  him  to  take  a 
hand  in  the  game,  and  he  ordered  the  midship 
gun    to  be   fired,  charged  as   it  was  with  a  solid 


TRIANGULAR   ACTION    WITH   GREAT   GUNS      211 

shot.  The  gunner  aimed  the  piece  himself,  and 
the  shot  was  seen  to  tear  up  the  water  alongside 
of  the  enemy.  He  discharged  the  piece  four 
times  more  with  no  better  result.  Evidently  he 
had  not  got  the  hang  of  the  gun,  though  he  was 
improving  at  every  trial. 

Three  steamers  were  rushing  towards  each 
other  with  all  the  fury  steam  could  give  them,  for 
the  overthrow  of  the  funnel  of  the  enemy  did  not 
disable  her,  though  it  probably  diminished  the 
draught  of  her  furnaces.  Through  the  glass  it 
could  be  seen  that  they  were  making  an  effort  to 
restore  the  fallen  smokestack  to  its  position.  All 
three  of  the  steamers  were  delivering  the  fire  of 
their  midship  guns  very  regularly,  though  with 
little  effect,  the  distance  was  so  great.  The  gun- 
ner of  the  Bronx  was  evidently  greatly  nettled  at 
the  number  of  solid  shots  he  had  wasted,  though 
the  gun  of  the  Ocklockonee  had  done  little  better 
so  far  as  could  be  seen.  The  three  vessels  were 
not  much  more  than  half  a  mile  from  each  other, 
and  the  enemy  had  begun  to  use  his  broadside 
guns. 

"Good!"  shouted  Mr.  Amblen  suddenly  after 
the  gunner  had  just  let  off  the  great  gun.     "  That 


212  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

shot  overturned  the  midship  piece  of  the  Arran ! 
Ambleton  has  fully  redeemed  himself."  The  an- 
nouncement of  the  effect  of  this  last  shot  sent 
up  a  volley  of  cheers  from  the  crew. 

The  Bronx  and  her  consort  had  set  the  Ameri- 
can flag  at  the  beginning  of  the  action,  and  the 
Confederate  had  promptly  displayed  her  ensign,  as 
though  she  scorned  to  go  into  action  without  hav- 
ing it  fully  understood  what  she  was.  She  did 
not  claim  to  be  a  blockade  runner,  and  do  her  best 
to  escape,  but  "  faced  the  music,"'  even  when  she 
realized  that  she  had  two  enemies  instead  of  one. 

Christy  had  evidently  inherited  some  of  the 
naval  blood  on  his  mother's  side,  and  he  was  not 
satisfied  with  the  slow  progress  of  the  action,  for 
the  shots  from  the  broadside  guns  of  the  enemy 
were  beginning  to  tell  upon  the  Bronx,  though 
she  had  received  no  serious  injury.  He  caused 
the  signal  to  prepare  to  board  to  be  set  as  agreed 
upon  with  Captain  Flint.  The  orders  already 
given  were  to  be  carried  out,  and  both  vessels  bore 
down  on  the  Arran  with  all  speed. 


ON    THE   DECK    OF    THE    ARRAN  213 


CHAPTER   XIX 

ON  THE  DECK   OE   THE    ARRAN 

Captain  Passford  had  carried  out  the  pro- 
gramme agreed  upon  with  Captain  Flint,  and  the 
latter  had  been  working  to  the  southward  since 
the  Bronx  came  into  the  action,  and  as  soon  as  the 
order  to  get  ready  to  board  was  given,  the  Ock- 
lockonee  went  ahead  at  full  speed,  headed  in  that 
direction.  She  had  reached  a  position  dead  ahead 
of  the  Arran,  so  that  she  no  longer  suffered  from 
the  shots  of  the  latter's  broadside  guns,  and  the 
Bronx  was  getting  the  entire  benefit  of  them. 

Both  vessels  had  kept  up  a  full  head  of  steam, 
and  the  coal  passers  were  kept  very  busy  at  just 
this  time.  The  Arran's  midship  gun  had  been  dis- 
abled so  that  she  could  not  make  any  very  telling 
shots,  but  her  crew  had  succeeded  in  righting  her 
funnel,  which  had  not  gone  entirely  over,  but  had 
been  held  by  the  stays.  Yet  it  could  be  seen  that 
there  was  a  big  opening  near  the  deck,  for  the 
smoke  did  not  all  pass  through  the  smokestack. 


214  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

The  broadside  guns  of  the  Arran  were  well 
served,  and  they  were  doing  considerable  mischief 
on  board  of  the  Bronx.  Christy  was  obliged  to 
hold  back  until  her  consort  was  in  position  to 
board  the  Arran  on  the  port  hand,  and  he  manoeu- 
vred the  steamer  so  as  to  receive  as  little  damage 
as  possible  from  her  guns.  He  was  to  board  on  the 
starboard  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  he  was  working 
nearer  to  her  all  the  time.  Mr.  Ambleton  the 
gunner  had  greatly  improved  his  practice,  and  the 
commander  was  obliged  to  check  his  enthusiasm, 
or  there  would  have  been  nothing  left  of  the 
Arran  in  half  an  hour  more.  Christy  considered 
the  final  result  as  fully  assured,  for  he  did  not 
believe  the  present  enemy  was  any  more  heavily 
manned  than  her  consort  had  been,  and  he  could 
throw  double  her  force  upon  her  deck  as  soon  as 
the  two  steamers  were  in  position  to  do  so. 

"  Are  you  doing  all  you  can  in  the  engine  room, 
Mr.  Sampson  ? "  asked  Christy,  pausing  at  the 
engine  hatch. 

"  Everything,  Captain  Passford,  and  I  think 
we  must  be  making  sixteen  knots,"  replied  the 
chief  engineer, 

"  Is  Mr.  Bockburn  on  duty  ?  " 


ON    THE   DECK   OE   THE   AREAN  215 

"  He  is,  sir ;  and  if  he  were  a  Connecticut 
Yankee  he  could  not  do  any  better,  or  appear  to 
be  any  more  interested." 

"  He  seems  to  be  entirely  impartial ;  all  he 
wants  is  his  pay,  and  he  is  as  willing  to  be  on  one 
side  as  the  other  if  he  only  gets  it,"  said  Christy. 
"  Has  any  damage  been  done  to  the  engine  ?  " 

"  None  at  all,  sir ;  a  shot  from  one  of  those 
broadside  guns  went  through  the  side,  and  passed 
just  over  the  top  of  one  of  the  boilers,"  replied 
the  engineer.  "  Bockburn  plugged  the  shot  hole 
very  skilfully,  and  said  it  would  not  be  possible 
for  a  shot  to  come  in  low  enough  to  hit  the  boil- 
ers. He  knows  all  about  the  other  two  vessels, 
and  has  served  as  an  engineer  on  board  of  the 
Arran  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic." 

Just  at  that  moment  a  shot  from  the  Arran 
struck  the  bridge,  and  a  splinter  from  the  struc- 
ture knocked  two  men  over.  One  of  them  picked 
himself  up,  but  said  he  was  not  much  hurt,  and 
refused  to  be  sent  below.  The  other  man  was 
Veering ;  he  seemed  to  be  unable  to  get  up, 
and  was  carried  down  by  order  of  the  boatswain. 
This  man  was  one  of  the  adherents  of  Hungerford 
and  Pawcett,  though  so  far  he  had  been  of  no 
service  to  them. 


216  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

Christy  hastened  forward  to  ascertain  the  extent 
of  the  damage  done  to  the  bridge.  It  was  com- 
pletely wrecked,  and  was  no  longer  in  condition 
to  be  occupied  by  an  officer.  But  the  pilot  house 
was  still  in  serviceable  repair,  and  the  quartermas- 
ter had  not  been  disturbed.  By  this  time,  the 
Ocklockonee  had  obtained  a  position  on  the  port 
bow  of  the  Arran,  and  the  commander  directed 
the  quartermaster  at  the  wheel  to  run  directly  for 
the  other  side  of  the  enemy. 

The  time  for  decisive  and  final  action  had  come. 
Mr.  Baskirk  placed  the  boarders  in  position  to  be 
thrown  on  board  of  the  Arran.  He  was  to  com- 
mand the  first  division  himself,  and  Mr.  Amblen 
the  second.  The  Ocklockonee  was  rushing  at  all 
the  speed  she  could  command  to  the  work  before 
her. 

For  some  reason  not  apparent  the  Arran  had 
stopped  her  screw,  though  she  had  kept  in  motion 
till  now,  doing  her  best  to  secure  the  most  favor- 
able position  for  action.  Possibly  her  commander 
believed  a  collision  between  the  vessels  at  a  high 
rate  of  speed  would  be  more  fatal  to  him  than 
anything  that  could  result  from  being  boarded. 
It  was  soon  discovered  that  she  vva3  backing,  and 


ON    THE    DECK    OF    THE    ARRAN  217 

it  was  evident  then  that  her  captain  had  some 
manoeuvre*  of  his  own  in  mind,  though  it  was  pos- 
sible that  he  was  only  doing  something  to  count- 
eract the  effect  of  a  collision.  Doubtless  he 
thought  the  two  vessels  approaching  him  at  such 
a  rapid  rate  intended  to  crush  the  Arran  between 
them,  and  that  they  desired  only  to  sink  him. 

He  was  not  allowed  many  minutes  more  to  carry 
out  his  policy,  whatever  it  was,  for  the  Ocklocko- 
nee  came  up  alongside  of  the  Arran,  the  grapnels 
were  thrown  out,  and  the  whole  boarding  force  of 
the  steamer  was  hurled  upon  her  decks.  But  the 
commander  was  a  plucky  man,  however  he  re- 
garded the  chances  for  or  against  him,  and  his  crew 
proceeded  vigorously  to  repel  boarders.  Christy 
had  timed  the  movements  of  the  Bronx  very  care- 
fully, and  the  Ocklockonee  had  hardly  fastened  to 
the  Arran  on  one  side  before  he  had  his  steamer 
grappled  on  the  other. 

"  Boarders,  away  !  "  he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs,  and  nourishing  his  sword  over  his  head,  not 
however  with  the  intention  of  going  into  the  fight 
himself,  but  as  a  demonstration  to  inspire  the  men. 

Baskirk  and  Amblen  rushed  forward  with  cut- 
lasses in  their  hands,  leaping  upon  the  deck  of  the 


218  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

enemy.  The  crew  was  found  to  equal  in  numbers 
about  the  force  that  the  Ocklockonee  had  brought 
to  bear  upon  them.  The  boarders  from  the  Bronx 
attacked  them  in  the  rear  while  they  were  fully 
occupied  with  the  boarders  in  front  of  them.  The 
officers  of  the  enemy  behaved  with  distinguished 
gallantry,  and  urged  their  men  forward  with  the 
most  desperate  enthusiasm.  They  struck  hard 
blows,  and  several  of  the  boarders  belonging  to 
the  consort  had  fallen,  to  say  nothing  of  wounds 
that  did  not  entirely  disable  others.  Some  of  the 
men  belonging  to  the  Arran,  doubtless  shipped  on 
the  other  side  of  the  ocean  or  at  the  Bermudas, 
were  disposed  to  shirk  their  duty,  though  their 
officers  held  them  well  up  to  the  work. 

One  of  the  brave  officers  who  had  done  the 
boarders  a  good  deal  of  mischief  fell  at  a  pistol 
shot  from  Mr.  Amblen  :  this  loss  of  his  leadership 
caused  a  sensible  giving  way  on  the  part  of  his 
division,  and  his  men  began  to  fall  back.  The 
other  officers,  including  the  captain,  who  fought 
with  a  heavy  cutlass,  held  out  for  a  short  time 
longer;  but  Christy  saw  that  it  was  slaughter. 

The  captain  of  the  Arran  was  the  next  to  go 
down,    though    he    was    not   killed.       This    event 


THE  CAPTAIN   OF  THE    ARRAN, 


ON   THE   DECK   OF   THE   AERAN  219 

practically  ended  the  contest  for  the  deck  of  the 
steamer.  The  boarders  crowded  upon  the  crew 
and  drove  them  to  the  bow  of  the  vessel,  where 
they  yielded  the  deck,  and  submitted  to  the  excess 
of  numbers. 

"  Don't  butcher  my  men  !  "  cried  the  captain  of 
the  Arran,  raising  himself  partially  from  his  place 
where  he  had  fallen.  "I  surrender,  for  we  are 
outnumbered  two  to  one." 

But  the  fighting  had  ceased  forward.  Mr.  Bas- 
kirk  was  as  earnest  to  save  any  further  slaughter 
as  he  had  been  to  win  the  fight.  Christy  came  on 
board  of  the  prize,  not  greatly  elated  at  the  victory, 
for  it  had  been  a  very  unequal  affair  as  to  num- 
bers. .  The  Arran  was  captured ;  that  was  all  that 
could  be  said  of  it.  She  had  been  bravely  de- 
fended ;  and  the  "  honors  were  even,"  though  the 
fortunes  of  the  day  were  against  the  Arran  and 
her  ship's  company. 

"Allow  me  to  introduce  myself  as  the  com- 
mander of  the  United  States  steamer  Bronx,"  said 
Christy,  approaching  the  fallen  captain  of  the 
Arran.  "  I  sincerely  hope  that  you  are  not  seri- 
ously injured,  sir." 

"Who  under  the  canopy  are  you?"  demanded 


220  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

the  commander  of  the  prize,  as  he  looked  at  the 
young  officer  with  something  like  contempt  in  his 
expression. 

"  I  have  just  informed  you  who  under  the 
canopy  I  am,"  replied  Christy,  not  pleased  with 
the  manner  of  the  other.  "  To  be  a  little  more 
definite,  I  am  Captain  Christopher  Passford,  com- 
mander of  the  United  States  steamer  Bronx,  of 
which  the  Arran  appears  to  be  a  prize." 

"  The  captain ! "  exclaimed  the  fallen  man. 
"You  are  nothing  but  a  boy!" 

"  But  I  am  old  enough  to  try  to  be  a  gentleman. 
You  are  evidently  old  enough  to  be  my  father, 
though  I  have  no  comments  to  make,"  added 
Christy. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Captain  Passford,"  said 
the  captain  of  the  Arran,  attempting  to  rise  from 
the  deck,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  Christy  and 
by  Mr.  Baskirk,  who  had  just  come  aft.  "  I  beg 
your  pardon,  Captain  Passford,  for  I  did  not 
understand  what  you  said  at  first,  and  I  did  not 
suspect  that  you  were  the  captain." 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  seriously  injured,  sir," 
added  Christy. 

"  I  don't  know  how  seriously,  but  I  have  a  cut 


ON    THE    DECK    OF    THE    ARRAN  221 

on  the  hip,  for  which  I  exchanged  one  on  the 
head,  parrying  the  stroke  so  that  it  took  me 
below  the  belt." 

"  Have  you  a  surgeon  on  board,  Captain  —  I 
have  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  your  name,  sir." 

"  Captain  Richfield,  lieutenant  in  the  Confeder- 
ate Navy.  We  have  a  surgeon  on  board,  and  he 
is  below  attending  to  the  wounded,"  replied  the 
captain. 

'.'  Allow  me  to  assist  you  to  your  cabin,  Captain 
Richfield,"  continued  Christy,  as  he  and  Baskirk 
each  took  one  of  the  wounded  officer's  arms. 

"Thank  you,  sir.  I  see  that  you  have  been 
doubly  fortunate,  Captain  Passford,  and  you  have 
both  the  Escambia  and  the  Ocklockonee.  I  did 
the  best  I  could  to  save  my  ship,  but  the  day  has 
gone  against  me." 

"  And  no  one  could  have  done  any  more  than 
you  have  done.  Your  ship  has  been  ably  and 
bravely  defended ;  but  it  was  my  good  fortune  to 
be  able  to  outnumber  you  both  in  ships  and  in 
men." 

Captain  Richfield  was  taken  to  his  state  room, 
and  assisted  into  his  berth.  A  steward  was  sent 
for  the  surgeon,  and  Christy  and  his  first  lieuten- 


222  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

ant  retired  from  the  cabin.  The  captured  seamen 
of  the  Arran  were  all  sent  below,  and  everything 
was  done  that  the  occasion  required. 

Christy  asked  Captain  Flint  to  meet  him  in  the 
cabin  of  the  Bronx  for  a  consultation  over  the 
situation,  for  the  sealed  orders  of  the  commander 
had  been  carried  out  to  the  letter  so  far  as  the  two 
expected  steamers  were  concerned,  and  it  only  re- 
mained to  report  to  the  flag  officer  of  the  Eastern 
Gulf  squadron.  But  with  two  prizes,  and  a  con- 
siderable number  of  prisoners,  the  situation  was 
not  without  its  difficulties. 

"  1  hope  you  are  quite  comfortable,  Captain 
Dinsmore,"  said  Christy  as  he  entered  his  cabin, 
and  found  his  guest  reading  at  the  table. 

"  Quite  so,  Captain  Passford.  I  have  heard  a 
great  deal  of  firing  in  the  last  hour,  and  I  am 
rather  surprised  to  find  that  you  are  not  a  prisoner 
on  board  of  the  Escambia,  or  perhaps  you  have 
come  to  your  cabin  for  your  clothes,"  replied  the 
guest  cheerfully. 

"  I  have  not  come  on  any  such  mission  ;  and  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  that  the  Con- 
federate steamer  Escambia  is  a  prize  to  the 
Bronx,"  replied  Christy  quite  as  cheerfully.     "  I 


ON    THE    DECK    OF   THE    ARRAN  223 

am  sorry  to  add  that  Captain  Richfield  was 
wounded  in  the  hip,  and  that  Mr.  Berwick,  the 
first  lieutenant,  was  killed." 

The  Confederate  officer  leaped  out  of  his  chair 
astonished  at  the  news.  He  declared  that  he  had 
confidently  expected  to  be  released  by  the  capture 
of  the  Bronx.  Christy  gave  a  brief  review  of  the 
action ;  and  Captain  Dinsmore  was  not  surprised 
at  the  result  when  informed  that  the  Ocklockonee 
had  taken  pavt  in  the  capture.  The  commander 
then  requested  him  to  retire  to  the  ward  room,  and 
Flint  came  in.  They  seated  themselves  at  the 
table,  and  proceeded  to  figure  up  their  resources 
and  consider  what  was  to  be  dune.  Mr.  Baskirk 
was  then  sent  for  to  assist  in  the  conference. 


224:  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XX 

THE   NEW   COMMANDER   OF   THE   BRONX 

"  Captain  Flint,  the  first  question  to  be  settled 
is  in  regard  to  the' engineer  force,"  said  Christy,  as 
the  three  officers  seated  themselves  at  the  table. 

"I  think  we  shall  have  no  difficulty  on  that 
score,  Captain  Passford,  for  I  have  already 
sounded  those  on  board  of  the  Arran,  or  the 
Escambia,  as  her  officers  call  her.  As  long  as 
their  wages  are  paid,  they  don't  care  which  side 
they  serve.  Mr.  Pivotte  is  the  chief,  and  he  is  as 
willing  to  go  one  way  as  the  other." 

"  Very  well ;  then  he  shall  retain  his  present 
position,  and  Bockburn  shall  be  restored  to  the 
Ocklockonee.  Of  course  the  arrangements  made 
after  the  capture  of  the  first  vessel  were  only  tem- 
porary, and  I  propose  to  report  to  the  flag  officer 
with  everything  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  condi- 
tion in  which  we  left  New  York,"  continued 
Christy. 


THE    NEW    COMMANDER    OF    THE    BRONX      225 

"  Of  course  I  expected  to  resume  my  former 
position  on  board  of  the  Bronx  as  soon  as  we  had 
disposed  of  the  two  steamers  ;  and  I  can  say  that 
I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  do  so,"  said  Flint  with  a 
pleasant  smile,  as  though  he  did  not  intend  to 
grieve  over  the  loss  of  his  command. 

"  In  a  few  days  more,  we  shall  move  down  a 
peg,  and  I  shall  cease  to  have  a  command  as  well 
as  yourself,"  added  Christy. 

"  And  I  suppose  I  shall  be  relegated  to  my  posi- 
tion as  a  quartermaster,"  said  Baskirk  ;  "  but  I 
shall  be  satisfied.  I  don't  care  to  wear  any  spurs 
that  I  have  not  won,  though  I  shall  be  glad  to 
have  a  higher  rank  when  I  deserve  it." 

"  You  deserve  it  now,  Mr.  Baskirk,  and  if  you 
don't  receive  it,  it  will  not  be  on  account  of  any 
weakness  in  my  report  of  the  events  of  the  last 
twenty-four  hours,"  added  Christy  heartily. 

"  Thank  you,  captain  ;  I  suppose  I  could  have 
procured  a  better  position  than  that  of  able  sea- 
man, but  I  preferred  to  work  my  way  up." 

"  It  was  wise  not  to  begin  too  high  up,  and  you 
have  already  won  your  spurs.  Noav,  Mr.  Baskirk, 
I  shall  ask  you  to  take  the  deck,  relieving  Mr. 
Amblen,"  added  Christy,  who  wished  to  talk  with 
Flint  alone. 


226  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  I  shall  be  really  glad  to  get  back  into  the 
Bronx,  for  I  feel  at  home  here  with  you,  captain," 
said  Flint. 

"  You  will  be  back  to  your  berth  here  very 
soon.  Now  we  have  to  send  these  two  steamers 
to  New  York.  They  are  fine  vessels,  and  will  be 
needed.  We  want  two  prize  masters,  and  we 
must  have  able  men.  Have  you  any  suggestion 
to  make,  Mr.  Flint?  I  first  thought  of  sending 
you  as  the  principal  one  ;  but  I  cannot  spare  you, 
and  the  service  in  the  Gulf  needs  you." 

"I  am  entirely  willing  to  go  where  my  duty 
calls  me,  without  regard  to  personal  preferences," 
replied  Flint.  "  I  have  a  suggestion  to  make : 
which  is  that  Baskirk  take  one  of  the  steamers." 

"  That  is  exactly  my  own  idea ;  from  what  I 
have  seen  of  him,  there  is  no  more  devoted  officer 
in  the  service." 

■  "  I  have  known  him  for  many  years,  and  I 
believe  in  him.  McSpindle  is  almost  as  good, 
and  has  had  a  better  education  than  Baskirk.  I 
don't  think  you  could  find  two  better  men  in  the 
navy  for  this  duty."  *  .. 

"Very  well;  then  I  will  appoint  -them  both." 

Flint  was  instructed  to  communicate  their  ap- 


THE   NEW   COMMANDER   OF   THE   BRONX      227 

pointment  to  Baskirk  and  McSpindle,  and  make  all 
the  preparations  for  the  departure  of  the  Escambia 
and  the  Ocklockonee.  Christy  went  to  his  state 
room,  and  wrote  his  report  of  the  capture  of  the 
two  steamers,  in  which  he  commended  the  two 
officers  who  were  to  go  as  prize  masters,  and  then 
wrote  a  letter  to  his  father,  with  a  strong  appeal 
in  their  favor.  Then  he  wrote  very  careful  in- 
structions for  the  government  of  the  officers  to  be 
sent  away,  in  which  he  directed  them  to  use  all 
necessary  precautions  in  regard  to  the  prisoners. 
In  a  couple  of  hours  after  the  capture  of  the 
Escambia,  the  two  prizes  sailed  for  New  York. 
Captain  Dinsmore  expressed  his  thanks  very 
warmly  to  Captain  Passford  for  his  courtesy  and 
kindness  at  parting. 

Christy  had  visited  every  part  of  the  two  steam- 
ers, and  talked  with  the  officers  and  men,  and 
especially  Avith  the  engineers,  and  he  discovered 
no  elements  of  discoid  on  board  of  either.  Hun- 
gerford  and  Pawcett  were  transferred  to  the 
Escambia,  and  committed  to  the  care  of  the 
surgeon  of  the  ship.  'Both  of  them  were  suf- 
fering from^  fever,  and  they  were  not  likely  to 
give    the    prize    master    any    trouble    during    the 


228  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

passage,  which  could  only  be  three  or  four  clays 
in  duration.  Baskirk  and  McSpindle  were  re- 
quired to  make  all  the  speed  they  could  consist- 
ent with  safety,  though  Christy  hardly  thought 
they  would  encounter  any  Confederate  rover  on 
the  voyage,  for  they  were  not  very  plenty  at  this 
stage  of  the  war. 

It  seemed  a  little  lonesome  on  hoard  of  the 
Bronx  after  the  two  steamers  had  disappeared  in 
the  distance,  and  the  number  of  the  crew  had  been 
eo  largely  reduced  by  the  drafts  for  the  prizes. 
The  steamer  was  hardly  in  condition  to  engage  an 
enemy  of  any  considerable  force,  and  Sampson  was 
directed  to  hurry  as  much  as  possible.  Christy 
had  heard  of  the  Bellevite  twice  since  he  left  her 
off  Pensacola  Bay.  She  had  been  sent  to  other 
stations  on  duty,  and  had  captured  two  schooners 
loaded  with  cotton  as  prizes ;  but  at  the  last  ac- 
counts she  had  returned  to  the  station  where  the 
Bronx  had  left  her. 

Christy  was  not  so  anxious  as  he  had  been  before 
the  recent  captures  to  fall  in  with  an  enemy,  for 
with  less  than  twenty  seamen  it  would  not  be  pru- 
dent to  attack  such  a  steamer  as  either  of  those  he 
had  captured,  though  he  would  not  have  objected 


TilE  NEW   COMMANDER   OF   THE   BRONX      229 

to  chase  a  blockade  runner  if  he  had  discovered 
one  pursued  by  the  gunboats. 

It  was  a  quiet  time  on  board  of  the  Bronx  com- 
pared with  the  excitement  of  the  earlier  days  of 
the  voyage.  In  the  very  beginning  of  the  trip,  he 
had  discovered  the  deaf  mute  at  the  cabin  door, 
and  his  thought,  his  inquiries,  and  his  action  in 
defeating  the  treachery  of  the  second  lieutenant 
had  kept  him  busy  night  and  day.  Now  the 
weather  was  fine  most  of  the  time,  and  he  had 
little  to  do  beyond  his  routine  duties.  But  he 
did  a  great  deal  of  thinking  in  his  cabin,  though 
most  of  it  was  in  relation  to  the  events  which  had 
transpired  on  board  of  the  Bronx. 

He  had  captured  two  valuable  prizes ;  but  he 
could  not  feel  that  he  was  entitled  to  any  great 
credit  for  the  achievements  -of  his  vessel,  since  he 
had  been  warned  in  the  beginning  to  look  out  for 
the  Scotian  and  the  Arran.  He  had  taken  the 
first  by  surprise,  and  the  result  was  due  to  the 
carelessness  of  her  commander  rather  than  to  any 
great  merit  on  his  own  part.  The  second  he  had 
taken  with  double  the  force  of  the  enemy  in  ships.. 
and  men ;  and  the  latter  was  not  precisely  the  kind 
of  a  victory  he  was  ambitious  to  win. 


280  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

At  the  same  time,  his  self-respect  assured  nira 
that  he  had  done  his  duty  faithfully,  and  that  it 
had  been  possible  for  him  to  throw  away  his  ad- 
vantage.: by  carelessness.  If  he  had  fallen  in  with 
both  the  Scotian  and  the  Arran  at  the  same  time, 
the  result  might  have  been  different,  though  he 
was  sure  that  he  should  have  fought  his  ship  as 
long  as  there  was  anything  left  of  her.  In  that 
case  there  would  have  been  more  room  for  manoeu- 
vring and  strategy,  for  he  did  not  admit  to  himself 
that  he  should  have  been  beaten. 

Amblen  continued  to  hold  his  place  as  second 
lieutenant,  and  McLinn  was  appointed  acting  third 
lieutenant.  The  carpenter  repaired  the  bridge, 
though  Christy  would  not  have  been  very  sorry 
if  it  had  been  so  thoroughly %  smashed  as  to  be 
beyond  restoration,  for  it  was  hardly  a  naval  in- 
stitution. The  men  who  had  been  only  slightly 
wounded  in  the  action  with  the  Escambia  'were 
progressing  finely  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Spokeley, 
and  when  the  Bronx  was  off  the  southern  cape  of 
Florida,  they  were  able  to  return  to  duty.  The 
latest  information  located  the  flag  officer  off  Pen- 
sacola,  and  in  due  time  Christy  reported  to  him. 
The  Bellevite  was  still  there,  and  the  commander 


THE    NEW    COMMANDER    OF   THE    BRONX      231 

went  on  board  of  her,  where  he  received  an  ovation 
from  the  former  officers  and  seamen  with  whom 
he  had  sailed.  He  did  not  take  any  pains  to  recite 
his  experience,  but  it  was  soon  known  throughout 
the  fleet.  ■ 

"  Christy,  I  shall  hardly  dare  to  sail  in  command 
of  a  ship  of  which  you  are  the  executive  officer,", 
said  Lieutenant  Blowitt,  who  was  to  command  the 
Bronx,  with  a  laugh. 

"  Why  not?  Is  my  reputation  so  bad  as  that?  " 
asked  Christy. 

"Bad!  No,  it  is  so  good.  The  fact  of  it  is, 
you  are  such  a  tremendous  fellow,  there  will  be 
no  room  for  any  other  officer  to  shine  in  the  same 
sky." 

"I  have  been  in  command  for  a  few  days, 
hardly  more  than  a  week,  but  I  assure  you  that 
I  can  and  shall  obey  the  orders  of  my  commander 
to  the  very  letter,"  added  Christy. 

"  But  you  took  two  steamers,  each  of  them  of 
nearly  twice  the  tonnage  of  your  own  ship,  in  mid 
ocean." 

"  But  I  took  them  one  at  a  time.  If  I  had  fallen 
in  with  both  at  the  same  time,  the  affair  might  have 
gone  the  other  way.     We  captured  the  first  one 


232  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

by  accident,  as  it  were,  and  the  second  with  double 
the  force  of  the  enemy.  I  don't  take  much  credit 
to  myself  for  that  sort  of  thing.  I  don't  think  it 
was  half  as  much  of  an  affair  as  bringing  out  the 
Teaser,  for  we  had  to  use  some  science  on  that 
occasion,"  replied  Christy  quietly. 

"  Science,  is  it  ?  "  laughed  Mr.  Blowitt.  "  Per- 
haps you  can  assist  me  to  some  of  your  science, 
when  it  is  required." 

"I" shall  obey  my  superior  officer,  and  not  pre- 
sume to  advise  him  unless  he  asks  me  to  do  so." 

"  Well,  Christy,  I  think  you  are  the  most  auda- 
cious young  fellow  I  ever  met,"  added  the  future 
commander  of  the  Bronx. 

"  I  haven't  anything  about  me  that  I  call  auda- 
city, so  far  as  I  understand  myself.  When  I  am 
told  to  do  any  duty,  I  do  it  if  it  is  possible  ;  and 
whether  it  is  possible  often  depends  upon  whether 
you  think  it  is  or  not." 

"  I  should  say  that  it  was  audacious  for  you 
to  think  of  capturing  two  steamers,  fitted  out  for 
war  purposes,  and  twice  the  size  of  your  own 
ship,  with  the  Bronx,"  added  Mr.  Blowitt,  still 
laughing,  to  take  off  the  edge  of  his  criticism. 

"  Why  did  the  Navy  Department  instruct  me 


THE  NEW  COMMANDER  OF  THE  BRONX   233 

in  my  sealed  orders  to  look  out  for  these  steamers, 
if  I  was  to  do  so  in  a  Pickwickian  sense  ?  "  de- 
manded Christy  earnestly-  tw  What  would  you 
have  done,  Mr.  Blowitt?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  should  have  been  as  audacious  as 
you  were,  Christy,  if  such  had  been  my  orders." 

This  conversation  took  place  on  the  deck  of 
the  Bellevite  where  Christy  had  come  to  see  his 
friends  ;  and  it  was  interrupted  by  a  boat  from 
the  flag  ship  which  brought  a  big  envelope  for  Mr. 
Blowitt.  It  instructed  him  to  go  on  board  of  the 
Bronx,  to  the  command  of  which  he  had  been 
appointed.  Another  order  required  him  to  pro- 
ceed to  a  point  on  the  western  coast  of  Florida, 
where  the  enemy  were  supposed  to  be  loading 
vessels  with  cotton,  and  break  up  the  depot  estab- 
lished for  the  purpose,  where  it  could  be  supplied 
by  the  Florida  Railroad. 

The  new  commander  packed  his  clothing,  and 
lie  was  sent  with  Christy  in  one  of  the  Bellevite's 
boats  to  the  Bronx.  They  went  on  board,  where 
the  late  acting  commander  had  already  removed 
his  own  property  to  the  ward!  room,  and  Captain 
Blowitt  was  conducted  to  his  cabin  and  state  room, 
of  which  he  took  formal  possession.    He  seemed  to 


234  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

be  very  much  pleased  with  his  accommodations 
since  the  government  had  put  the  vessel  in  order, 
though  he  had  been  on  board  of  her,  and  fought 
a  battle  on  her  deck,  while  she  was  still  the 
Teaser. 

"I  am  sure  I  could  not  ask  for  anything  better 
than  this  cabin,"  said  he,  after  he  had  invited  his 
first  lieutenant  to  come  in. 

!'  I  found  it  very  comfortable,"  added  Christy. 
"  Flint  is  second  lieutenant,  and  Sampson  chief 
engineer;  and  that  is  all  there  are  of  those  who 
were  in  the  Bellevite.  I  will  introduce  you  to  the 
acting  third  lieutenant,  Mr.  Amblen,  and  you  can 
retain  him  or  not  as  you  please." 

Mr.  Amblen  was  called  in  and  presented  to  the 
captain,  and  then  Flint  was  ordered  to  get  under 
way. 


AN    EXPEDITION   IN    THE   GULF  235 


CHAPTER   XXI 

AN   EXPEDITION   IN   THE   GULF 

The  Bronx  had  been  three  clays  on  the  station, 
Christy  had  made  his  report  in  full  on  her  arrival, 
and  the  flag  officer  had  visited  the  vessel  in  per- 
son, in  order  to  ascertain  her  fitness  for  several 
enterprises  he  had  in  view.  The  Confederates 
were  not  sleepy  or  inactive,  and  resorted  to  every 
expedient  within  their  means  to  counteract  both 
morally  and  materially  the  efficiency  of  the  block- 
ade. 

The  Bronx  was  admirably  adapted  to  service  in 
the  shoal  waters  where  the  heavier  vessels  of  the 
investing  squadron  could  not  go,  and  her  arrival 
solved  several  problems  then  under  consideration. 
Captain  Blowitt  and  Christy  had  been  sent  for, 
and  the  late  commander  of  the  Bronx  was  ques- 
tioned in  regard  to  the  steamer,  her  draught,  her 
speed,  and  her  ship's  company.  The  damage  done 
to  her  in  the  conflict  with  the  Escambia  had  been 


236  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

fully  repaired  by  the  carpenter  and  his  gang,  and 
the  steamer  was  in  as  good  condition  as  when  she 
sailed  from  New  York. 

"  In  regard  to  the  present  officers,  Mr.  Passford, 
excepting  present  company,  of  course,  they  are 
excellent,"  said  Captain  McKeon,  the  flag  officer. 
"  For  the  service  in  which  the  Bronx  is  to  be 
engaged,  its  success  will  depend  upon  the  officers, 
though  it  is  hardly  exceptional  in  this  respect.  I 
understand  that  you  sailed  from  New  York  rather 
short-handed  abaft  the  mainmast." 

"  Yes,  sir,  we  did  ;  but  fortunately  we  had  most 
excellent  material  of  which  to  make  officers,  and 
we  made  them,"  replied  Christy. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  something  about  them  ; 
I  mean  apart  from  Captain  Blowitt  and  yourself, 
for  you  have  already  made  your  record,  and  yours, 
Mr.  Passford,  is  rather  a  dazzling  reputation  for 
one  so  young." 

"  I  am  willing  to  apologize  for  it,  sir,"  replied 
Christy,  blushing  like  a  maiden,  as  he  was  in  duty 
bound  to  do,  for  he  could  not  control  the  crimson 
that  rose  to  his  browned  cheeks. 

"  Quite  unnecessary,"  replied  Captain  McKeon, 
smiling.     "  As  long  as  you  do  your  duty  nobody 


AN    EXPEDITION    IN    THE    GULF  237 

will  be  jealous  of  you,  and  you  will  be  a  fit  officer 
for  all  our  young  men  to  emulate.  You  were  the 
acting  commander  on  the  voyage  of  the  Bronx 
from  New  York.  Your  executive  officer  is  the 
present  second  lieutenant.  Is  he  qualified  for  the 
peculiar  duty  before  you  ?  " 

"  No  one  could  be  more  so,  sir,"  replied  Christy 
with  proper  enthusiasm. 

"  I  can  fully  indorse  this  opinion  of  Mr.  Pass- 
ford,"  added  Captain  Blowitt.  "  In  the  capture 
and  bringing  out  of  the  Teaser,  Mr.  Flint  was  th°, 
right  hand  man  of  the  leader  of  the  enterprise." 

"  And  I  gave  him  the  command  of  the  Ocklock- 
onee,  after  her  capture,  and  she  took  an  active 
part  in  the  affair  with  the  Escambia,  sir,"  said 
Christy. 

"  Then  we  will  consider  him  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place,"  replied  the  flag  officer.  "  Who  is 
the  present  third  lieutenant  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Amblen  is  acting  in  that  capacity  at  pres- 
ent, and  he  is  a  very  good  officer,  though  he  holds 
no  rank,"  answered  Christy. 

"  Then  I  can  hardly  confirm  him  as  second 
lieutenant,"  added  Captain  McKeon. 

"  In  my  report  of  the  affairs  with  the  Ocklock- 


238  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

onee  and  the  Escambia,  I  have  strongly  recom- 
mended him  and  three  other  officers  for  promo- 
tion, for  all  of  them  are  fitted  by  education  and 
experience  at  sea  to  do  duty  on  board  of  such 
vessels  as  the  Bronx." 

"  Have  you  any  officer  in  mind  who  would 
acceptably  fill  the  vacant  place,  Captain  Blowitt?" 

"I  know  of  no  one  at  present  who  holds  the 
rank  to  entitle  him  to  such  a  position,  and  I  shall 
appeal  to  Mr.  Passford,"  replied  the  new  com- 
mander. 

"  You  have  named  Mr.  Amblen,  Mr.  Passford  ; 
is-  he  just  the  officer  you  would  select  if  the 
matter  were  left  to  you?  "  asked  the  flag  officer. 

"  No,  sir,  though  he  would  do  very  well.  Mr. 
Baskirk,  who  served  as  executive  officer  while  Mr. 
Flint  was  away  in  the  Ocklockonee,  is  better 
adapted  for  the  place,"  said  Christy.  "He  com- 
manded the  first  division  of  boarders  on  board  of 
the  Escambia,  and  he  fought  like  a  hero  and  is  a 
man  of  excellent  judgment.  I  am  confident  that 
he  will  make  his  mark  as  an  officer.  I  am  willing 
to  admit  that  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my  father  espe- 
cially requesting  him  to  do  what  he  could  for  the 
immediate  promotion  of  Mr.  Baskirk." 


AN   EXPEDITION   IN   THE   GULF  239 

"  Then  he  will  be  immediately  promoted," 
added  Captain  McKeon  with  an  expressive  smile. 

"  I  may  add  also  that  I  was  presumptive  enough 
to  suggest  his  appointment  as  third  lieutenant  of 
the  Bronx,"  continued  Christy. 

"  Then  he  will  be  the  third  lieutenant  of  the 
Bronx  ;  and  what  you  say  .would  have  settled  the 
matter  in  the  first  place  as  well  as  now,"  said 
the  flag  officer,  as  much  pleased  with  the  reticence 
of  the  young  officer  as  with  his  modesty. 
"Amblen  may  remain  on  board  till  his  commission 
comes,  and  you  can  retain  him  as  third  lieutenant, 
Captain  Blowitt,  if  you  are  so  disposed.  1  have 
ordered  a  draft  of  twelve  seamen  to  the  Bronx, 
which  will  give  you  a  crew  of  thirty,  and  I  can- 
not spare  any  more  until  more  men  are  sent  down. 
I  may  add  that  I  have  taken  some  of  them  from 
the  Bellevite." 

"  I  am  quite  satisfied,  sir,  with  the  number, 
though  ten  more  would  be  acceptable,"  replied  the 
commander  of  the  Bronx. 

The  two  officers  were  then  dismissed  and 
ordered  on  board  of  their  ship.  A  little  later  the 
draft  of  seamen  was  sent  on  board,  and  among 
them  Christy  was  not  sorry  to  see  Boxie,  the  old 


240  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

sheet-anchor  man  of  the  Bellevite,  who  had  made 
him  a  sort  of  pet,  and  had  done  a  great  deal  to 
instruct  him  in  matters  of  seamanship,  naval  cus- 
toms, and  traditions  not  found  in  any  books. 

The  commander  and  the  executive  officer  paid 
their  final  visit  to  the  Bellevite  the  next  day,  and 
the  order  was  given  to»weigh  anchor.  When  all 
hands  were  called,  Christy  thought  he  had  never 
seen  a  better  set  of  men  except  on  board  of  the 
Bellevite,  and  the  expedition,  whatever  it  was, 
commenced  under  the  most  favorable  auspices. 

The  Bronx  sailed  in  the  middle  of  the  forenoon, 
and  the  flag  officer  was  careful  not  to  reveal  the 
destination  of  the  steamer  to  any  one,  for  with 
the  aid  of  the  telegraph,  the  object  of  the  expe- 
dition might  reach  the  scene  of  operations  in  ad- 
vance of  the  arrival  of  the  force.  At  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  Captain  Blowitt  opened  his 
envelope  in  presence  of  the  executive  officer.  He 
looked  the  paper  through  before  he  spoke,  and 
then  handed  it  to  Christy,  who  read  it  with  quite 
as  much  interest  as  the  commander  had. 

"  Cedar  Keys,"  said  the  captain,  glancing  at  his 
associate. 

"  That  is    not   a   long  run   from   the   station," 


AN    EXPEDITION    IN   THE   GULF  241 

added  Christy.  "  We  are  very  likely  to  be  there 
before  to-morrow  morning." 

"  It  is  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  statute 
miles,  I  had  occasion  to  ascertain  a  week  ago  when 
something  was  said  about  Cedar  Keys,"  replied 
Captain  Blowitt.  "  We  have  been  making  about 
fifteen  knots,  for  the  Bronx  is  a  flyer,  and  we 
ought  to  be  near  our  destination  at  about  mid- 
night. That  would  be  an  excellent  time  to  arrive 
if  we  only  had  a  pilot." 

"  Perhaps  we  have  one,"  added  Christy  with  a 
smile. 

"Are  you  a  pilot  on  this  coast,  Mr.  Passford?" 
asked  the  commander,  mistaking  the  smile. 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  not ;  but  I  remember  a  conversa- 
tion Mr.  Flint  and  I  had  with  Mr.  Amblen,  who 
was  engaged  in  some  sort  of  a  speculation  in 
Florida  when  the  war  came  on.  He  was  so  pro- 
voked at  the  treatment  he  received  that  he 
shipped  in  the  navy  at  once.  I  only  know  that  he 
had  a  small  steamer  in  these  waters." 

"  Send  for  Mr.  Amblen  at  once  !  "  exclaimed 
the  commander,  who  appeared  to  have  become 
suddenly  excited.  "  There  will  be  no  moon  to- 
night  in   these   parts,    and   we   may   be    able    to 


242  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

hurry  this  matter  up  if  we  have  a  competent 
pilot." 

Christy  called  Dave,  and  sent  him  for  the  act- 
ing third  lieutenant,  for  he  knew  that  Mr.  Flint 
had  had  the  watch  since  four  o'clock.  Mr. 
Amblen  was  sunning  himself  on  the  quarter  deck, 
and  he  promptly  obeyed  the  summons. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Amblen,  and  I  hope 
you  will  prove  to  be  as  useful  a  person  as  I  have 
been  led  to  believe  you  may  be,"  said  the  captain. 

"  I  shall  endeavor  to  do  my  duty,  sir,"  replied 
the  third  lieutenant,  who  was  always  very  anlbi- 
tious  to  earn  the  good  opinion  of  his  superiors. 
t"  I  mean  to  do  the  best  I  can  to  make  myself 
useful,  Captain  Blowitt." 

"  I  know  that  very  well ;  but  the  question  now 
is  what  you  know  rather  than  what  you  can  do  as 
an  officer.  Mr.  Passford  informs  me  that  you 
were  formerly  engaged  in  some  kind  of  a  specula- 
tion on  the  west  coast  of  Florida." 

"  Hardly  a  speculation,  sir,  for  I  was  engaged  in 
the  fish  business,"  replied  Mr.  Amblen,  laughing 
at  the  name  which  had  been  given  to  his  calling. 
"  When  I  sold  a  small  coaster  that  belonged  to  me, 
I  got  in  exchange  a  tug  boat.     I  had  been  out  of 


AN   EXPEDITION   IN    THE   GULF  243 

health  a  few  years  before ;  I  spent  six  months  at 
Cedar  Keys  and  Tampa,  and  got  well.  Fish  were 
plenty  here,  and  of  a  kind  that  bring  a  good  price 
farther  north.  I  loaded  my  tug  with  ice,  and  came 
down  here  in  her.  I  did  a  first-rate  business  buy- 
ing from  boats  and  in  catching  fish  myself,  and  for 
a  time  I  made  money,  though  ice  was  so  dear  that 
I  had  to  sell  in  the  South." 

"Did  you  have  a  pilot  on  board  of  your  tug?  " 
asked  the  captain. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  was  my  own  pilot.  I  had  the  charts, 
and  I  studied  out  the  bottom,  so  that  I  knew  where 
I  was  in  the  darkest  night." 

"  Then  you  are  just  the  person  we  want  if  you 
are  a  pilot  in  these  waters." 

"  What  waters,  sir?  We  are  now  off  Cape  St. 
Bias  and  Apalachicola  Bay.  I  have  been  into  the 
bay,  but  I  am  not  a  pilot  in  those  waters,  as  you 
suggest." 

"I  have  just  opened  my  orders,  and  I  find  we 
are  ordered  to  Cedar  Keys,"  interposed  the  com- 
mander. 

"  That  is  quite  another  tiling,  sir ;  and  there 
isn't  a  foot  of  bottom  within  five  miles  of  the 
Keys  to  which  I  have  not  been  personally  intro- 


244  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

duce'd.  When  I  was  down  here  for  my  health  I 
was  on  the  water  more  than  half  of  the  time,  and 
I  learned  all  about  the  bay  and  coast ;  and  I  have 
been  up  the  Suwanee  River,  which  flows  into  the 
Gulf  eighteen  mile?  north  of  the  Keys." 

"  I  am  exceedingly  glad  to  find  that  we  have 
such  an  excellent  pilot  on  board.  I  am  informed 
in  my  orders  that  schooners  load  with  cotton  at 
this  place,  and  make  an  easy  thing  of  getting  to 
sea,"  added  Captain  Blowitt. 

"  I  should  say  that  it  was  a  capital  port  for 
the  Confederates  to  use  for  that  sort  of  busi- 
ness. Small  steamers  can  bring  cotton  down  the 
Suwanee  River,  the  railroad  from  Fernandina  ter- 
minates at  the  Key,  and  this  road  connects  with 
that  to  Jacksonville  and  the  whole  of  western 
Florida  as  far  as  Tallahassee." 

"  We  may  find  a  steamer  or  two  there." 

"  You  may,  though  not  one  any  larger  than  the 
Bronx,  for  there  is  only  eleven  feet  of  water  on 
the  bar.  Probably  no  blockaders  have  yet  been 
stationed  off  the  port,  and  it  is  a  good  place  to  run 
out  cotton." 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Amblen,  for 
the  information  you  have  given  me,  and  your  serv- 


AN    EXPEDITION    IN    THE    GULF  245 

ices  will  probably  be  in  demand  this  very  night," 
added  the  commander,  rising  from  his  chair. 

"  I  am  ready  for  duty  at  all  times,  sir,"  replied 
Mr.  Amblen,  as  he  retired  from  the  cabin. 

The  charts  were  then  consulted,  and  sundry  cal- 
culations were  made.  At  one  o'clock  that  night 
the  Bronx  was  off  Cedar  Keys. 


246  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XXII 

A   NIGHT   EXPEDITION   IN   THE   BOATS 

During  the  evening  Captain  Blowitt  had  con- 
sulted his  officers,  and  arranged  his  plans  for 
operations,  or  at  least  for  obtaining  information 
in  regard  to  the  situation  inside  of  North  Key, 
where  the  landing  place  is  situated.  He  had 
already  arranged  to  give  the  command  of  the 
boat  expedition  to  Christy,  with  the  second 
lieutenant  in  another  boat,  Mr.  Amblen  being 
with  the  executive  officer  in  the  first. 

"Now,  Mr.  Passford,  I  do  not  expect  you  to 
capture  the  whole  State  of  Florida,  and  if  you 
should  return  without  accomplishing  anything  at 
all,  I  shall  not  be  disappointed,  but  I  shall  feel 
that  you  have  done  everything  that  could  be  done," 
said  the  captain,  with  a  very  cheerful  smile,  when 
all  had  been  arranged. 

"  I  shall  endeavor  to  obey  my  orders,  Captain 
Blowitt,  if  I  can  do  so  in  the  exercise  of  a  reason- 


A   NIGHT   EXPEDITION   IN   THE   BOATS        247 

able  prudence,"  replied  Christy,  who  took  in  all 
that  his  superior  looked,  as  well  as  all  that  he  said. 

"  A  reasonable  prudence  is  decidedly  good,  com- 
ing from  you,  Mr.  Passford,"  said  the  captain, 
laughing  outright. 

"  Why  is  it  decidedly  good  from  me  rather  than 
from  anybody  else?"  asked  Christy,  somewhat 
nettled  by  the  remark. 

"You  objected  once  on  board  of  the  Bellevite 
when  I  mildly  hinted  that  you  might  sometimes, 
under  some  circumstances,  with  a  strong  temptation 
before  you,  be  just  a  little  audacious,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, still  laughing,  as  though  he  were  engaged  in 
a  mere  joke. 

"  That  statement  is  certainly  qualified  in  almost 
all  directions,  if  you  will  excuse  me  for  saying  so, 
captain,"  replied  Christy,  who  was  fully  deter- 
mined not  to  take  offence  at  anything  his  superior 
might  say,  for  he  had  always  regarded  him  as  one 
of  his  best  friends.  "  If  I  remember  rightly  the 
mild  suggestion  of  a  criticism  which  you  gently 
and  tenderly  applied  to  me  was  after  we  had 
brought  out  the  Teaser  from  Pensacola  Bay.'' 

"  That  was  the  time.  Captain  Breaker  sent  you 
to  ascertain,  if  you  could,  wheie  the  Teaser  was, 


24:8  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

and  you  reported  by  bringing  her  out,  which  cer- 
tainly no  one  expected  you  would  do,  and  I 
believe  this  part  of  the  programme  carried  out 
on  that  excursion  was  not  mentioned  in  your 
orders." 

"  It  was  not ;  but  if  I  had  a  good  chance  to  cap- 
ture the  steamer,  was  it  my  duty  to  pass  over  that 
chance,  and  run  the  risk  of  letting  the  vessel  get 
out?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  it  was  your  duty,  if  you  got 
a  good  chance,  to  capture  the  steamer." 

"  And  that  is  precisely  what  I  did.  I  did  not 
lose  a  man,  or  have  one  wounded  in  the  expedi- 
tion ;  and  I  have  only  to  be  penitent  for  being 
audacious,"  laughed  Christy  ;  and  he  was  laughing 
very  earnestly,  as  though  the  extra  cachin nation 
was  assumed  for  a  purpose.  "  I  suppose  I  ought 
to  dress  myself  in  ash  cloth  and  sashes,  shut  my- 
self up  in  my  state  room  always  when  off  duty, 
and  shed  penitential  tears  from  the  rising  of  the 
sun  to  the  going  down  of  the  same,  and  during 
the  lone  watches  of  the  night,  and  in  fortifying 
my  soul  against  the  monstrous  sin  of  audacity.  I 
will  think  of  it." 

"I  hope  you  have  no  feeling  about  this  matter, 


A    NIGHT    EXPEDITION    IN    THE    BOATS       249 

Mr.  Password,"  said  the  captain,  rising  from  his 
chair  and  taking  Christy  by  the  hand. 

"  Not  a  particle,  Captain  Blowitt.  I  am  abso- 
lutely sure  that  you  would  have  done  precisely 
what  I  did,  if  you  had  been  in  my  situation," 
protested  Christy.  "About  the  last  thing  my 
father  talked  about  to  me  when  we  parted  in  this 
cabin  in  New  York  Harbor  was  the  necessity  of 
prudence  and  discretion  in  the  discharge  of  my 
duties ;  and  I  am  sure  his  advice  saved  me  from 
falling  into  the  traps  set  for  me  by  Hungerford 
and  Pawcett,  and  enabled  me  to  capture  two  of 
the  enemy's  crack  steamers." 

"  I  will  never  use  the  word  audacity  or  the 
adjective  audacious  to  you  again,  Christy.  I  see 
that  it  nettles  you,  to  say  the  least,"  added  the 
captain,  pressing  his  hand  with  more  earnestness. 

"  I  am  perfectly  willing  you  should  apply  both 
words  to  me  when  I  deserve  it.  Audacity  means 
boldness,  impudence,  according  to  Stormonth.  Au- 
dacious means  very  bold,  daring,  impudent.  It 
may  have  been  bold  to  run  out  the  Teaser,  and 
the  enemy  would  even  call  it  impudent,  for  the 
meaning  of  a  word  sometimes  depends  upon  which 
side  you  belong  to.     My  father  was  quite  as  im- 


250  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

puclent  as  I  was  when  he  ran  the  Bellevite  out  of 
Mobile  Bay,  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan.  He 
was  audacious,  wasn't  he  ?  " 

"  We  should  hardly  apply  that  word  to  him." 

"  Why  not  ?  Simply  because  my  father  was 
forty-five  years  old  when  he  told  Captain  Breaker 
to  do  it.  If  I  were  only  thirty  years  old  I  should 
not  be  audacious.  I  am  a  boy,  and  therefore  any- 
thing that  I  do  is  daring,  audacious,  impudent, 
imprudent." 

"  I  rather  think  you  are  right,  Mr.  Passford, 
and  it  is  your  age  more  than  the  results  of  your 
actions  that  is  the  basis  of  our  judgment,"  said 
Captain  Blowitt. 

"  I  wish  to  add  seriously,  captain,  as  a  friend 
and  not  as  an  officer,  I  do  not  claim  that  the  com- 
mand of  this  expedition  should  be  given  to  me 
because  I  am  first  lieutenant  of  the  Bronx,  or  for 
an}'  other  reason,"  added  Christy  with  an  earnest 
expression.  "  Perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  give 
the  command  to  the  second  lieutenant ;  and  if  you 
do  so,  I  assure  you,  upon  my  honor,  that  it  will 
not  produce  a  particle  of  feeling  in  my  mind.  I 
shall  honor,  respect,  and  love  you  as  I  have 
always,  Captain  Blowitt." 


A   NIGHT   EXPEDITION   IN   THE   BOATS       251 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  entirely  misunder- 
standing me,"  protested  the  commander,  as  ear- 
nestly as  his  subordinate  had  spoken.  "  I  give 
you  the  command  of  this  expedition  because  I 
honestly  and  sincerely  believe  you  are  the  very 
best  person  on  board  to  whom  I  can  commit  such 
a  responsibility." 

"  That  is  enough,  captain,  and  a  great  deal 
more  than  you  were  under  any  obligations  to  say 
to  me;  and  I  shall  obey  my  orders  with  all  the 
prudence  and  discretion  I  can  bring  to  bear  upon 
them,"  said  Christy,  taking  the  captain's  offered 
hand.  "  If  I  fail  it  will  not  be  because  I  do  not 
try  to  be  prudent." 

"  There  is  such  a  thing  as  being  too  prudent, 
and  I  hope  that  nothing  which  has  been  said  to 
you  by  your  father  or  by  me  will  drive  you  to 
the  other  extreme." 

Though  this  conversation  had  at  times  been 
very  animated,  Christy  was  glad  that  it  had  taken 
place,  for  it  gave  him  a  better  insight  into  his  own 
standing  than  he  had  before.  He  did  not  look 
upon  it  as  a  very  great  affair  to  command  a  couple 
of  boats,  in  a  night  expedition,  for  he  had  recently 
commanded  two  steamers,  and  brought   them  off 


252  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

victorious.  He  had  it  in  mind  to  ask  the  captain 
to  send  Flint  in  command  of  the  expedition, 
though  it  would  compel  him,  on  account  of  his 
rank,  to  remain  inactive  on  board  of  the  Bronx  ; 
but  he  could  not  do  this,  after  what  had  been  said, 
without  leaving  some  evidence  that  he  was  dis- 
affected by  what  the  commander  had  said  to  him 
about  audacity. 

It  was  found  after  a  calculation  of  the  run  very 
carefully  made  that  the  Bronx  would  arrive  too 
soon  at  her  destination,  and  she  was  slowed  down 
as  the  evening  came  on.  In  the  ward  room,  of 
which  Christy  was  now  the  occupant  of  the  for- 
ward berth  on  the  starboard  side,  he  studied  the 
chart  with  Amblen  a  good  part  of  the  waiting 
hours,  and  the  executive  officer  obtained  all  the 
information  he  could  from  the  third  lieutenant. 
There  were  three  principal  keys,  or  cays,  one  of 
which,  called  the  North  Key,  was  the  nearest  to 
the  mainland,  and  was  set  in  the  mouth  of  a  bay. 
This  was  the  nearest  to  the  peninsula  at  the  end 
of  which  the  railroad  terminates.  About  south- 
west of  it  is  the  Seahorse  Key,  on  which  there  is  a 
light  in  peaceful  times.  To  the  south  of  the  point 
is  the  Snake  Key,  and  between  the  last  two  is  the 


A    NIGHT    EXPEDITION    IN    THE    UOATS        253 

main  channel  to  the  port,  which  twists  about  like 
the  track  of  a  snake.  There  is  a  town,  or  rather  a 
village,  near  the  landing. 

Six  bells  struck  on  deck,  and  all  the  officers, 
including  the  captain,  adjourned  to  the  bridge, 
which  was  a  useful  institution  on  such  occasions 
as  the  present.  A  sharp  watch  had  been  kept  by 
Lieutenant  Flint  in  charge  ;  but  though  the  night 
was  clear,  nothing  had  been  made  out  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  shore.  All  lights  on  board  had 
been  put  out,  and  the  Bronx  went  along  in  the 
smooth  sea  as  quietly  as  a  lady  on  a  fashionable 
promenade,  and  it  was  not  believed  that  anything 
could  be  seen  of  her  from  the  shore. 

About  midnight  the  lookout  man  aloft  reported 
that  he  could  see  a  twinkling  light.  It  was 
promptly  Investigated  by  Mr.  Amblen,  who  went 
aloft  for  the  purpose.  He  was  satisfied  that  it 
was  a  light  in  some  house  in  the  village,  probably 
in  the  upper  story.  It  soon  disappeared,  and  it 
was  thought  to  be  occasioned  by  the  late  retiring 
of  some  person. 

"  I  should  say,  Captain  Blowitt,  that  we  are  not 
more  than  five  miles  outside  of  Seahorse  Key," 
said   Mr.   Amblen,  after   he    had   interpreted   the 


254  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

meaning  of  the  light.  "  It  is  after  midnight,  and 
these  people  are  not  in  the  habit  of  sitting  up  so 
late." 

"  If  they  are  shipping  much  cotton  from  this 
port,  it  is  not  improbable  that  there  is  a  force  here 
to  protect  the  vessels,  whatever  they  are,"  added 
the  commander. 

"  Of  that,  of  course,  I  can  know  nothing ;  but 
I  shall  expect  to  find  a  Confederate  battery  some- 
where on  the  point,  and  I  know  about  where  to 
look  for  it." 

"  The  place  has  never  been  of  any  great  impor- 
tance, and  you  can  hardly  expect  to  find  a  very 
strong  force  in  it,"  added  the  captain. 

It  has  since  become  a  place  of  more  note,  both 
as  a  resort  for  invalids  and  pleasure-seekers,  and 
as  the  termination  of  the  railroad  from  Fernan- 
dina  and  Jacksonville,  and  steamers  have  run 
regularly  from  the  port  to  Havana  and  New 
Orleans. 

"  If  you  will  excuse  me,  Captain  Blowitt,  I 
should  say  that  it  was  not  advisable  to  take  the 
Bronx  nearer  than  within  about  four  miles  of  the 
Seahorse  Key,"  suggested  Mr.  Amblen. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  that  we  had  gone  as  far  as 


A   NIGHT    EXPEDITION   IN   THE   BOATS        255 

it  is  prudent  to  go.  Do  you  think  you  could  take 
the  Bronx  up  to  the  landing?"  added  the  captain. 

"  I  am  very  sure  that  I  could,  for  I  have  been 
in  many  a  time  on  a  darker  night  than  this." 

"  We  will  not  go  in  to-night,  but  perhaps  we 
may  have  occasion  to  do  so  to-morrow.  We  shall 
know  better  what  to  do  when  we  get  a  report  of 
the  state  of  things  in  the  place,"  replied  the  cap- 
tain, as  he  gave  the  word  through  the  speaking 
tube  to  stop  the  steamer. 

Christy  had  been  given  full  powers  to  make  all 
preparations  for  the  boat  expedition,  and  was 
allowed  ten  men  to  each  of  the  quarter  boats. 
He  had  selected  the  ones  for  his  own  boat,  and 
had  required  Flint  to  pick  his  own  crew  for  the 
other.  The  oars  had  been  carefulty  muffled  by  the 
coxswains,  for  it  was  desirable  that  no  alarm 
should  be  given  in  the  place.  The  starboard 
quarter  boat  was  the  first  cutter,  pulled  by  six 
oars,  and  this  was  for  Christy  and  Mr.  Amblen, 
with  the  regular  coxswain  and  three  hands  in  the 
bow.  The  second  cutter  was  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Flint,  and  followed  the  other  boat,  keeping  near 
enough  to  obtain  her  course  in  the  twists  of  the 
channel. 


256  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

It  was  a  long  pull  to  the  Seahorse  Key,  and  a 
moderate  stroke  was  taken  as  well  not  to  tire  the 
men  as  to -avoid  all  possible  noise.  When  the  first 
cutter  was  abreast  of  the  Key,  the  pilot  pointed 
out  the  dark  outline  of  the  peninsula,  which  was 
less  than  a  mile  distant.  No  vessel  could  be 
seen ;  but  the  pilot  thought  they  might  be  con- 
cealed by  the  iailroad  buildings  on  the  point. 
Christy  asked  where  the  battery  was  which  the 
pilot  thought  he  could  locate,  and  the  spot  was 
indicated  to  him.  Christy  wanted  a  nearer  view 
of  it,  and  the  cutter  was  headed  in  that  direction. 


THE    VISIT   TO   A   SHORE    BATTERY  257 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

THE   VISIT   TO   A   SHORE   BATTERY 

The  first  cutter  reached  the  Seahorse  Key 
closely  followed  by  the  second.  It  was  within  an 
hour  of  high  tide,  the  ordinary  rise  and  fall  of 
which  was  two  and  a  half  feet.  On  the  Key  was  a 
light  house,  and  a  cottage  for  the  keeper  of  it ;  but 
the  former  was  no  longer  illuminated,  and  the  house 
was  as  dark  as  the  head  of  the  tower.  So  far  as 
could  be  discovered  there  was  no  one  on  the  Key, 
though  the  boats  did  not  stop  to  investigate  this 
matter.  The  crews  still  pulled  a  moderate  stroke 
with  their  muffled  oars,  the  men  were  not  allowed 
to  talk,  and  everything  was  as  silent  as  the  inside 
of  a  tomb. 

The  pilot  stood  up  in  the  stern  sheets  of  the 
cutter,  gazing  intently  in  the  direction  of  the 
point  nearly  a  mile  ahead.  The  outlines  of 
the  buildings  could  be  discerned,  and  Amblen  soon 
declared  that  he  could  make  out  the  tops  of  the 


258  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

masts  of  several  vessels  to  the  westward  of  the 
point  with  which  the  peninsula  terminated.  This 
looked  hopeful,  and  indicated  that  the  information 
upon  which  the  expedition  had  been  sent  out  was 
correct.  Christy  began  to  think  he  should  have  a 
busy  night  before  him  when  Amblen  said  there 
were  at  least  three  vessels  at  the  port. 

The  battery  was  first  to  be  visited  and  cared  for 
if  there  was  one,  and  it  was  not  probable  that  a 
place  so  open  to  the  operations  of  the  blockading 
force  would  be  without  one,  especially  if  the 
people  were  actually  engaged  in  loading  cotton, 
as  the  masts  of  the  vessels  indicated,  though  the 
hulls  could  not  yet  be  seen.  As  the  first  cutter 
approached  nearer  to  the  place  the  outlines  be- 
came more  distinct,  and  soon  embodied  themselves 
into  definite  objects.  Both  officers  in  the  sterti 
sheets  watched  with  the  most  anxious  vigilance 
for  any  moving  object  denoting  the  presence  of 
life  and  intelligence. 

As  the  boats  came  nearer  to  the  shore,  a  breeze 
sprang  up,  and  cooled  the  air,  for  early  as  it  was 
in  the  season,  the  weather  was  very  warm,  and  it 
was  not  uncommon  for  the  thermometer  to  rise 
above  ninety.     These  breezes  were  usually  pres- 


THE   VISIT   TO   A   SHORE   BATTERY  259 

ent  to  cool  the  nights,  and  doubtless  the  inhab- 
itants slept  the  sounder  for  the  one  which  had  just 
begun  to  fan  the  cheeks  of  the  officers  and  seamen 
of  the  expedition. 

"  There  is  a  battery  there,  Mr.  Passford,"  said 
the  pilot  in  a  very  low  tone.  "  I  can  make  it  out 
now,  and  it  is  just  where  I  supposed  it  would  be." 

"  I  can  see  something  that  seems  like  an  earth- 
work at  the  right  of  the  buildings,"  added 
Christy.  "  Can  you  make  out  anything  that  looks 
like  a  sentinel  ?  " 

"  I  can  see  nothing  that  denotes  the  presence  of 
a  man.  If  there  were  a  sentinel  there,  he  would 
be  on  the  top  of  the  earthwork,  or  on  the  highest 
ground  about  it,  so  that  he  could  see  out  into  the 
bay,  for  there  can  be  no  danger  from  the  land  side 
of  the  place,"  added  Amblen. 

"  I  can  hardly  imagine  such  a  thing  as  a  battery 
without  a  sentinel  to  give  warning  if  anybody 
should  try  to  carry  it  off.  There  must  be  a  sen- 
try somewhere  in  the  vicinity." 

"I  can't  say  there  isn't,  though  I  can't  make 
out  a  man,  or  anything  that  looks  like  one," 
replied  the  pilot. 

"  Very  likely  we  shall  soon  wake  him  up,  Mr. 


260  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

Aniblen ;  and  in  that  case  it  will  be  necessary  for 
us  to  find  a  safer  place  than  in  front  of  the  guns 
of  the  battery,  for  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  expose 
the  men  to  the  fire  of  the  works,  whatever  they 
are." 

"  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  pull  around  to  the 
other  side  of  the  point  into  the  bay,  where  the 
vessels  are.  I  am  confident  there  is  no  battery 
on  that  side,  and  there  can  hardly  be  any  need  of 
one,  for  this  one  commands  the  channel,  the  only 
approach  to  the  place  for  a  vessel  larger  than  a 
cutter." 

"  I  fancy  this  battery  does  not  amount  to  much, 
and  is  probably  nothing  more  than  an  earthwork, 
with  a  few  field  guns  behind  it.  Suppose  we 
should  wake  it  up,  and  have  to  make  for  the  bay, 
can  we  get  out  of  it  without  putting  the  boats 
under  the  guns  of  the  battery  ? " 

"  Without  any  difficulty  at  all,  sir.  We  have 
only  to  pull  around  the  North  Key,  and  pass  out 
to  the  Gulf,  beyond  the  reach  of  any  field  gun  that 
can  be  brought  to  bear  on  us,"  replied  Mr.  Amblen. 

"If  they  have  one  or  two  field  batteries  here, 
they  may  hitch  on  the  horses,  and  follow  us,"  sug- 
gested Christy,  who,  in  spite  of  the  audacity  with 


THE    VISIT   TO    A    SHORE   BATTERY  261 

which  he  had  been  mildly  charged,  was  not  inclined 
to  run  into  any  trap  from  which  he  could  not 
readily  withdraw  his  force. 

"  We  shall  have  the  short  line,  and  if  they  pur- 
sue us  with  the  guns,  we  can  retire  by  the  way  of 
the  channel,  which  they  will  leave  uncovered." 

"  We  are  getting  quite  near  the  shore,"  con- 
tinued Christy.     "  How  is  the  water  under  us  ?  " 

"  The  bottom  is  sandy,  and  we  shall  take  the 
ground  before  we  reach  the  shore  if  we  don't 
manage  properly.  But  we  can  tell  something  by 
the  mangroves  that  fringe  the  land,"  replied  the 
pilot ;  "  and  I  will  go  into  the  bow  of  the  cutter 
and  look  out  for  them." 

Mr.  Amblen  made  his  way  to  the  fore  sheets, 
and  asked  Boxie,  who  was  there,  for  the  boathook, 
with  which  he  proceeded  to  sound.  When  he  had 
done  so,  he  raised  both  his  hands  to  a  level  with 
his  shoulders,  which  was  the  signal  to  go  ahead, 
and  the  men  pulled  a  very  slow  stroke.  He  con- 
tinued to  sound,  after  he  had  selected  the  point 
for  landing-. 

When  the  first  cutter  was  within  three  lengths 
of  the  shore,  he  elevated  both  his  hands  above  his 
head,  which  was  the  signal  to  cease  rowing,  though 


262  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

the  two  bow  oarsmen  kept  their  oars  in  the  water 
instead  of  boating  them  as  the  others  did.  Mr. 
Amblen  continued  to  feel  the  way,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  more,  aided  by  the  shoving  of  the  two 
bow  oarsmen,  lie  brought  the  boat  to  the  shore. 

Then  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  second  cutter, 
bringing  it  to  the  land  alongside  of  the  first. 
Stepping  out  on  the  sand  himself,  he  was  followed 
by  all  the  crew,  with  cutlass  in  hand,  and  revolvers 
in  readiness  for  use.  The  men  were  placed  in 
order  for  an  advance,  and  then  required  to  lie 
down  on  the  sand,  so  that  they  could  not  readily 
be  seen  if  any  stroller  appeared  on  the  ground. 

Leaving  the  force  in  charge  of  Mr.  Flint, 
Christy  and  Amblen  walked  towards  the  battery, 
crouching  behind  such  objects  as  they  could  find 
that  would  conceal  them  in  whole  or  in  part. 
The  earthwork  was  semicircular  in  form,  and  was 
hardly  more  than  a  rifle  pit.  No  sentinel  could 
be  discovered,  and  getting  down  upon  the  sand, 
the  two  officers  crept  cautiously  towards  the  heaps 
of  sand  which  formed  the  fort. 

Christy  climbed  up  the  slope  with  some  diffi- 
culty, for  the  dry  sand  afforded  a  very  weak  foot- 
hold.    On  the  top  of  it,  which  was  about  six  feet 


THE    VISIT   TO   A   SHORE   BATTERY  263 

wide,  they  found  a  solid  path  which  had  evidently 
been  a  promenade  for  sentinels  or  other  persons. 
Behind  it,  on  a  wooden  platform,  were  four  field 
guns,  with  depressions  in  the  earthwork  in  front 
of  the  muzzles. 

Christy  led  the  way  down  the  slope  on  the  inside 
to  the  pieces,  which  were  twelve-pounders.  At  a 
little  distance  from  the  platform  was  a  sort  of 
casemate,  which  might  have  been  constructed  for 
a  magazine,  or  for  a  place  of  resort  for  the  gunners 
if  the  fort  should  be  bombarded.  Not  a  man  could 
be  seen,  and  if  there  was  any  garrison  for  the 
place,  they  were  certainly  taking  things  very  com- 
fortably, for  they  must  have  been  asleep  at  this 
unseemly  hour  for  any  ordinary  occupation. 

Not  far  from  the  battery  was  a  rude  structure, 
hardly  better  than  a  shanty,  which  Christy  con- 
cluded must  be  the  barracks  of  the  soldiers  if 
there  were  any  there.  He  walked  over  to  it ;  but 
there  was  not  a  human  being  to  be  seen  in  the 
vicinity.  It  was  half  past  one  at  night,  when 
honest  people  ought  to  be  abed  and  asleep,  and 
the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Bronx  concluded  that 
the  garrison,  if  this  shanty  was  their  quarters, 
must  be  honest  people. 


264  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

Christy  walked  very  cautiously  to  the  side  of 
the  building,  for  the  entrance  was  at  the  end 
nearest  to  the  fort,  and  found  several  windows 
there,  from  which  the  sashes  seemed  to  have  been 
removed,  if  there  had  ever  been  any.  The  bottom 
of  each  opening  was  no  higher  than  his  head,  and 
he  went  to  one  of  them  and  looked  in. 

Extending  along  the  middle  of  the  interior  was 
a  row  of  berths.  It  was  very  dark  inside,  and  he 
could  not  make  out  whether  or  not  these  bunks 
were  occupied.  The  windows  on  the  other  side 
of  the  shanty  enabled  him  to  see  that  there  were 
two  rows  of  berths,  each  backing  against  the  other. 
There  were  two  in  each  tier,  and  he  judged  that 
the  barrack  would  accommodate  forty-eight  men. 

He  retained  his  place  at  the  window  in  order  to 
discover  any  movement  made  by  a  sleeper  that 
would  inform  him  whether  or  not  the  berths  were 
occupied.  If  there  were  any  soldiers  there,  they 
were  as  quiet  as  statues  ;  but  while  he  was  watch- 
ing for  a  movement,  he  heard  a  decided  snore. 
There  was  at  least  one  man  there,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  hear  his  sonorous  breathing  as  long  as 
he  remained  at  the  window,  which  was  the  first  on 
the  side  of  the  shanty. 


CHRISTY   WALKED   THE   WHOLE    LENGTH   OF  THE   SHANTY. 


THE    VISIT   TO   A   SHORE   BATTERY  265 

Christy  decided  to  push  the  investigation  still 
farther,  and  he  went  to  a  window  in  the  middle 
of  the  building.  He  regarded  the  berths  with  at- 
tention for  a  few  minutes,  but  he  could  perceive 
no  movement.  He  could  hear  two  snorers  who 
seemed  to  be  competing  with  each  other  to  see 
who  could  make  the  most  noise. 

If  the  berths  were  all  occupied,  three  snorers 
were  not  a  very  great  proportion  in  forty-eight. 
He  was  very  anxious  to  ascertain  if  this  was  the 
number  of  soldiers  in  the  place,  but  it  was  too 
dark  in  the  shanty  for  him  to  determine  whether 
or  not  the  bunks  were  all  in  use.  It  was  too 
many  for  him  to  encounter  with  his  force  of 
twenty  men  and  three  officers  in  the  open  field. 

Christy  returned  to  the  end  of  the  building,  and 
tried  the  door.  It  was  not  locked,  and  he  decided 
to  make  use  of  a  little  of  the  audacity  of  which  he 
was  accused  of  having  a  good  deal.  Taking  off 
his  shoes,  and  passing  his  sword  to  Mr.  Amblen, 
he  entered  the  barrack  on  tiptoe. 

The  boards  of  the  floor  began  to  creak  under  his 
weight ;  he  stooped  down  and  felt  till  he  found  the 
nail  holes ;  then  he  knew  that  he  was  on  a  timber, 
and   he  walked  the  whole  length  of  the  shanty, 


266  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

returning  on  the  opposite  side,  counting  the  occu- 
pied berths,  for  he  passed  within  three  feet  of  all 
of  them.  The  count  gave  seventeen  men  as  the 
number  of  sleepers,  though  this  might  not  be  all 
the  force  at  the  place. 

He  had  ascertained  all  he  wished  to  know,  and 
he  walked  back  to  the  shore  where  the  men  were 
concealed.  Apart  from  the  men,  he  had  a  confer- 
ence with  Flint  and  Amblen,  giving  them  the 
details  of  what  he  had  discovered.  Then  he 
stated  his  plan,  and  the  .men  were  marched  si- 
lently to  the  battery,  and  were  posted  behind  the 
breastwork.  Not  a  man  was  allowed  to  move, 
and  Christy  and  Flint  went  to  the  casemate, 
which  looked  like  a  mound  of  sand. 

It  was  locked,  but  taking  a  bar  of  iron  they 
found  with  some  tools  for  digging,  they  tore  off 
the  padlock.  A  lantern  had  been  brought  from 
the  steamer,  which  was  lighted.  The  structure 
was  found  to  be  for  the  protection  of  the  artiller- 
ists in  the  first  instance  ;  but  the  apartment  was 
connected  with  the  magazine,  the  lock  of  which 
was  removed. 

Amblen  was  sent  for  ten  men,  and  all  the 
ammunition  they  could  carry  was  removed.     The 


THE   VISIT  TO   A    SHORE   BATTERY  267 

rest  of  it  was  thrown  into  a  pool  of  water  made  by- 
recent  rains.  The  powder,  solid  shot,  and  shells 
were  carried  to  the  boats.  The  rest  of  the  men 
drew  the  four  guns  to  the  shore,  where  one  was 
placed,  with  its  carriage,  in  each  of  the  cutters, 
and  the  other  two  put  where  they  could  be  carried 
to  the  Bronx,  or  thrown  overboard  in  deep  water, 
as  occasion  might  require. 

The  seventeen  soldiers,  reinforced  by  any  that 
might  be  in  the  town,  were  thus  deprived  of  the 
power  to  do  any  mischief  except  in  a  hand-to- 
hand  fight.  If  the  place  was  not  actually  cap- 
tured, it  was  practically  lost  to  the  enemy.  The 
next  business  of  the  expedition  was  to  examine 
the  bay,  and  ascertain  what  vessels  were  at  the 
landing  place.  The  boats  shoved  off,  and  pulled 
around  the  point. 


268  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

CAPTAIN   LONLEY    OF   THE   STEAMER    HAVANA 

The  two  twelve-pounders  in  each  boat  were 
believed  to  weigh  about  six  hundred  pounds  each, 
while  the  ordinary  bronze  boat  gun  of  the  same 
calibre  weighs  seven  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 
The  four  guns,  therefore,  were  rather  too  heavy  a 
burden  for  the  size  of  the  cutters.  But  Christy 
was  unwilling  to  throw  the  two  without  carriages 
overboard,  for  the  water  in  this  locality  was  so 
clear  that  they  could  have  been  seen  at  a  depth 
of  two  or  three  fathoms.  They  were  useless  for 
the  duty  in  which  the  expedition  was  engaged, 
and  the  commander  of  the  expedition  decided  to 
land  them  on  the  Seahorse  Key  till  he  had  com- 
pleted his  operations  in  the  bay,  when  they  could 
be  taken  off  and  transported  to  the  Bronx  as 
trophies,  if  for  nothing  better. 

Mr.  Flint  was  disposed  to  object  to  this  plan, 
on  account  of  the  time  it  would  require ;  but  he 


CAPTAIN    LONLEY    OF    STEAMER    HAVANA       269 

yielded  the  point  when  Christy  informed  him  that 
it  was  only  half  past  two,  as  he  learned  from  the 
repeater  he  carried  for  its  usefulness  on  just  such 
duty  as  the  present  expedition. 

The  guns  and  all  that  belonged  to  them  were 
landed  on  the  Key,  and  the  boats  shoved  off,  the 
lieutenants  happy  in  the  thought  that  they  were 
no  longer  embarrassed  by  their  weight,  while  they 
could  not  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them. 

The  boats  had  hardly  left  the  little  island 
behind  them  when  the  noise  of  paddle  wheels 
ahead  was  reported  by  one  of  the  trio  in  the  bow 
of  the  first  cutter.  Christy  listened  with  all  his 
ears,  and  immediately  heard  the  peculiar  sounds 
caused  by  the  slapping  of  the  paddle  wheels  of  a 
steamer  upon  the  water. 

"  We  are  in  for  something,1'  said  he  to  the  pilot, 
as  he  listened  to  the  sounds.  "  What  might  that 
be?" 

"  It  is  a  steamer  without  any  doubt  coming 
around  the  point,  and  she  will  be  in  sight  in  a 
moment  or  two,"  replied  Mr.  Amblen.  "  It  may 
be  a  river  steamer  that  has  brought  a  load  of  cot- 
ton down  the  Suwanee,  and  is  going  out  on  this 
tide."  ' 


270  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Then  we  may  need  those  guns  we  have  left  on 
the  key,"  suggested  Christy. 

"  If  she  is  a  river  steamer,  there  is  not  much  of 
a  force  on  board  of  her,"  replied  the  pilot. 

"  We  might  return  to  the  island,  and  use  the 
two  guns  with  carriages  there." 

"If  she  is  a  river  steamer,  we  shall  not  need 
great  guns  to  capture  her." 

Christy  had  ordered  the  men  to  cease  rowing, 
and  the  two  cutters  lay  motionless  on  the  full  sea, 
for  the  tide  was  at  its  height  by  this  time.  Even 
in  the  darkness  they  could  make  out  whether  the 
approaching  vessel  was  a  river  or  a  sea  steamer  as 
soon  as  she  could  be  seen. 

"  Whatever  she  is,  we  must  capture  her,"  said 
Christy,  very  decidedly. 

"  If  she  is  a  river  steamer,  she  will  be  of  no  use 
to  the  government,"  added  Mr.  Amblen. 

"  Of  none  at  all,"  replied  Christy.  "  In  that 
case  I  shall  burn  her,  for  it  would  not  be  safe  to 
send  good  men  in  such  a  craft  to  a  port  where  she 
could  be  condemned.  The  next  question  is,  shall 
we  take  her  here,  or  nearer  to  the  shore." 

"  The  farther  from  the  shore  the  better,  I 
should  say,  Mr.  Passford.     After  she    passes  the 


CAPTAIN   LONLEY   OF   STEAMER   HAVANA      271 

Seahorse  Key,  she  will  be  in  deep  water  for  a  ves- 
sel coming  out  of  that  port ;  and  until  she  gets  to 
the  Key,  she  will  move  very  slowly,  and  we  can 
'board  her  better  than  when  she  is  going  at  full 
speed,"  said  Mr.  Amblen. 

"You  are  doubtless  quite  right,  Mr.  Amblen, 
and  I  shall  adopt  your  suggestion,"  replied 
Christy.  "  There  she  comes,  and  she  is  no  river 
steamer." 

She  had  not  the  two  tall  funnels  carried  by 
river  steamers,  and  that  point  was  enough  to 
settle  her  character.  There  could  be  no  doubt  she 
would  have  been  a  blockade  runner,  if  there  had 
been  any  blockade  to  run  at  the  entrance  to  the 
port.  Christy  decided  to  board  the  steamer  be- 
tween the  two  keys,  the  channel  passing  between 
Snake  and  Seahorse.  The  first  cutter  fell  back 
so  that  Christy  could  communicate  with  Mr. 
Flint,  and  he  instructed  him  to  take  a  position  off 
the  Snake  Key,  where  his  boat  could  not  be  dis- 
covered too  soon,  and  board  the  steamer  on  the 
port  side,  though  he  did  not  expect  any  resist- 
ance. Each  cutter  took  its  position  and  awaited 
in  silence  the  approach  of  the  blockade  runner. 
The  only  thing  Christy  feared  was  that  she  would 


272  ON   THE  BLOCKADE 

come  about  and  run  back  to  the  port,  though  this 
could  only  delay  her  capture. 

The  steamer,  as  well  as  the  officers  could  judge 
her  in  the  distance,  was  hardly  larger  than  the 
Bronx.  They  concluded  that  she  must  be  loaded 
with  cotton,  and  at  this  time  it  was  about  as  valu- 
able a  cargo  as  could  be  put  on  board  of  her. 
She  would  be  a  rich  prize,  and  the  masts  of  the 
schooners  were  still  to  be  seen  over  the  tops  of  the 
buildings.  She  must  have  chosen  this  hour  of 
the  night  to  go  out,  not  only  on  account  of  the 
tide,  but  because  the  darkness  would  enable  her  to 
get  off  the  coast  where  a  blockader  occasionally 
wandered  before  the  blockade  was  fully  estab' 
lished.  Her  paddle  wheels  indicated  that  she  had 
not  been  built  very  recently,  for  very  nearly  all 
sea  steamers,  including  tho^e  of  the  United 
States,   were  propelled  by  the  screw. 

As  Mr.  Amblen  hid  predicted  the  steamer 
moved  very  slowly,  and  it  was,  all  of  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  she  came  to  the  Seahorse  Key.  At 
the  right  time  Christy  gave  the  word  to  the  crew 
to  "  Give  way  lively  ! "  and  the  first  cutter  shot 
out  from  the  concealment  of  the  little  island, 
while  Flint  did  the  same  on  the  other  side  of  the 


CAPTAIN    LONLEY    OF    STEAMER    HAVANA      273 

channel.  Almost  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  the 
two  boats  had  made  fast  to  her,  and  seven  men 
from  each  boat  leaped  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer, 
cutlass  in  hand.  No  guns  were  to  be  seen,  and 
the  watch  of  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  men 
were  on  the  forecastle ;  and  perhaps  this  was  the 
entire  force  of  the  sailing  department. 

"What  does  all  this  mean?"  demanded  a  man 
coming  from  the  after  part  of  the  vessel,  in  a 
voice  which  Christy  recognized  as  soon  as  he  had 
heard  half  of  the  sentence. 

"  Good  morning,  Captain  Lonley,"  said  Christy, 
in  the  pleasantest  of  tones.  '<  You  are  up  earty, 
my  friend,  but  I  think  we  are  a  little  ahead  of 
you  on  this  occasion.'1 

"Who  are  you,  sir?"  demanded  Lonley;  and 
Christy  had  at  once  jumped  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  was  the  captain  of  the  steamer.  "  I  have 
heard  your  voice  before,  but  I  cannot  place  you, 
sir." 

"  Fortunately  for  me,  it  is  not  necessary  that 
you  should  place  me  this  time,"  replied  Christy. 
"  It  is  equally  fortunate  that  I  am  not  compelled 
to  place  you  again,  as  I  felt  obliged  to  do,  on 
board  of  the  Judith  in  Mobile  Bay." 


274  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Passford  ! '  exclaimed  Captain  Lonley,  step- 
ping back  a  pace  in  his  astonishment. 

"  Passford,  late  of  the  Bellevite,  and  now  ex- 
ecutive officer  of  the  United  States  steamer 
Bronx,  formerly  the  Teaser,  privateer,"  answered 
Christy,  in  his  usual  cheerful  tones.  "  May  I 
inquire  the  name  of  this  steamer  ? " 

"  This  steamer  is  the  Havana,"  replied  Captain 
Lonley.  "  May  I  ask  "you,  Mr.  Passford,  in  regard 
to  your  business  on  board  of  her  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  little  affair  on  board  of  her,  and 
my  duty  compels  me  to  demand  her  surrender  as 
a  prize  to  the  Bronx." 

"  Caught  again  !  "  exclaimed  Captain  Lonley, 
stamping  violently  on  the  deck  in  his  disgust  at 
his  misfortune,  and  it  was  the  third  time  that 
Christy  had  thrown  him  "out  of  a  job." 

"  The  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard,  Captain 
Lonley,"  added  the  commander  of  the  expedition. 

"  Transgressor,  sir ! "  ejaculated  the  captain  of 
the  Havana.  "  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Mr. 
Passford  ?  " 

"Well,  captain,  you  are  in  arms  against  the 
best  government  that  the  good  God  ever  permitted 
to  exist   for  eighty   odd  years ;    and  that  is   the 


CAPTAIN    LONLEY   OF    STEAMER    HAVANA      275 

greatest  transgression  of  which  one  can  be  guilty 
in  a  patriotic  sense/' 

"  I  hold  no  allegiance  to  that  government." 

"So  much  the  worse  for  you,  Captain  Lonley ; 
but  we  will  not  talk  politics.    Do  you  surrender?" 

"  This  is  not  an  armed  steamer,  and  I  have  no 
force  to  resist;  I  am  compelled  to  surrender," 
replied  the  captain  as  he  glanced  at  the  cutlasses 
of  the  men  from  the  Bronx. 

"  That  is  a  correct,  though  not  a  cheerful  view 
of  the  question  on  your  part.  I  am  very  happy  to 
relieve  you  from  any  further  care  of  the  Havana, 
and  you  may  retire  to  your  cabin,  where  I  shall 
Have  the  honor  to  wait  upon  you  later." 

"  One  word,  Mr.  Passford,  if  you  please,"  said 
Captain  Lonley,  taking  Christy  by  the  arm  and 
leading  him  away  from  the  rest  of  the  boarding 
party.  "  This  steamer  and  the  cotton  with  which 
she  is  loaded  are  the  property  of  your  uncle, 
Homer  Passford." 

"  Indeed  ? "  was  all  that  Christy  thought  it 
necessary  to  say  in  reply. 

"  You  have  already  taken  from  him  one  valuable 
cargo  of  cotton  ;  and  it  would  be  magnanimous  in 
you,  as  well  as   very  kind  of  a  near  relative,  to 


276  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

allow  me  to  pass  on  my  way  with  the  property  of 
your  uncle." 

"  Would  it  have  been  kind  on  the  part  of  a  near 
relative  to  allow  his  own  brother  to  pass  out  of 
Mobile  Bay  in  the  Bellevite?  " 

"  That  would  have  been  quite  another  thing,  for 
the  Bellevite  was  intended  for  the  Federal  navy," 
protested  the  Confederate  captain.  "It  would 
have  been  sacrificing  his  country  to  his  fraternal 
feelings.  This  is  not  a  Confederate  vessel,  and  is 
not  intended  as  a  war  steamer,"  argued  Lonley. 

"  Every  pound  of  cotton  my  uncle  sells  is  so 
much  strength  added  to  the  cause  he  advocates ; 
and  I  hope,  with  no  unkind  thoughts  or  feelings 
in  regard  to  him,  I  shall  be  able  to  capture  every 
vessel  he  sends  out.  That  is  my  view  of  the 
matter,  and  I  am  just  as  strong  on  my  side  of  the 
question  as  Uncle  Homer  is  on  his  side.  I  would 
cut  off  my  right  hand  -before  I  would  allow  your 
vessel  or  any  other  to  escape,  for  I  have  sworn 
allegiance  to  my  government,  and  when .  I  fail  to 
do  my  duty  at  any  sacrifice  of  personal  feeling,  it 
will  be  when  I  have  lost  my  mind;  and  my  uncle 
would  do  as  much  for  his  fractional  government. 
We  need  not  discuss  such  a  subject  as  }tou  suggest, 
captain." 


CAPTAIN    LONLEY    OF    STEAMER    HAVANA      277 

Captain  Lonley  said  no  more,  and  retired  to  his 
cabin.  Christy  was  ready  for  the  next  question  in 
order.  Accompanied  by  Mr.  Flint,  he  looked  the 
steamer  over.  The  mate  had  lighted  his  pipe  and 
seated  himself  on  a  water  cask ;  and  he  seemed  to 
be  the  only  officer  besides  the  captain  on  board. 
The  engineers  were  next  visited.  There  were  two 
of  them,  but  they  were  red  hot  for  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  nothing  was  said  to  them  except  to 
order  them  on  deck,  where  they  were  placed  with 
the  crew,  and  a  guard  of  seamen  set  over  them. 
The  firemen  were  negroes,  and  they  were  willing 
to  serve  under  the  new  master,  and  doubtless 
were  pleased  with  the  change.  The  crew  of  the 
Bronx  on  board  of  the  Havana  were  canvassed  to 
find  a  man  who  had  run  an  engine,  but  not  one 
of  them  had  any  experience. 

"  That's  bad,*'  said  Flint,  when  they  had  finished 
the  inquiry.  "  We  have  not  an  engineer  on  board, 
and  we  shall  have  to  send  off  'to-  the  Bronx  for 
one." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  Mr.  Flint,''  replied  Christy. 
"  There  is  one  loyal  engineer  on  board,  and  I  am 
the  one.  You  will  take  the  deck,  and  Mr.  Amblen 
will  go  into  the  pilot  house.     I  am  not  quite  ready 


278  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

to  go  off  to  the  Bronx  yet,  for  there  are  two  or 
three  cotton  schooners  in  this  port,  and  we  are  so 
fortunate  as  to  have  a  steamer  now  to  tow  them 
out," 

"  Very  likely  those  soldiers  have  waked  up  by 
this  time,"  said  Flint. 

"  Let  them  fire  those  guns  at  us,  if  they  can  find 
them,"  laughed  Christy. 

Then  he  took  Mr.  Amblen  into  the  engine  room 
with  him. 


NEW  ENGINEER  OF  THE  PRIZE  STEAMER      279 


CHAPTER   XXV 

THE   NEW   ENGINEER   OF   THE   PRIZE   STEAMER 

While  enthusiastically  pursuing  his  studies  as 
an  engineer,  Christy  had  visited  a  great  many 
steamers  with  Paul  Vapoor  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  the  engines,  so  that  he  could  hardly 
expect  to  find  one  with  whose  construction  he 
was  not  familiar,  whether  it  was  an  American  or 
a  foreign  built  machine.  At  the  first  glance  after 
he  entered  the  engine  room  of  the  Havana,  he 
knew  the  engine,  and  was  ready  to  run  it  without 
spending  any  time  in  studying  it.  He  had  brought 
the  pilot  with  him  in  order  to  come  to  an  under- 
standing in  regard  to  the  bells,  for  in  the  navy 
the  signals  differ  from  those  in  the  commercial 
marine. 

"  This  steamer  is  provided  with  a  gong  and  a 
jingling  bell,"  said  Christy,  as  he  pointed  them 
out  to  his  companion. 

"  My  little  steamer  on  this  coast  was  run  with 
just  such  bells,"  replied  Mr.  Amblen. 


280  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

"  And  so  was  the  Bellevite,  so  that  I  am  quite 
accustomed  to  the  system  of  signals ;  but  it  is  well 
to  be  sure  that  we  understand  each  other  perfectly 
if  we  expect  to  get  this  vessel  out  of  the  bay  after 
we  go  up  to  the  port,"  added  Christy. 

"  I  agree  with  you  entirely,  sir.  A  single  strong 
stroke  on  the  gong  is  to  start  or  to  stop  her  accord- 
ing to  the  circumstances,"  said  the  pilot. 

"  Precisely  so ;  and  two  strokes  are  to  back 
her,"  continued  Christy.  "  Going  at  full  speed, 
the  jingler  brings  the  engine  down  to  half  speed, 
or  at  half  speed  carries  it  up  to  full  speed." 

"  That  is  my  understanding  of  the  matter," 
replied  Mr.  Amblen. 

"  Then  Ave  understand  each  other  to  a  charm," 
continued  the  temporary  engineer.  "  Report  to 
Mr.  Flint  that  we  are  ready  to  go  ahead." 

Christy  found  a  colored  man  who  was  on  duty 
as  an  oiler,  and  four  others  in  the  fire  room,  who 
seemed  to  be  engaged  in  an  earnest  discussion  of 
the  situation,  for  the  capture  of  the  Havana  was 
a  momentous  event  to  all  of  them.  The  oiler  was 
at  work,  and  had  thoroughly  lubricated  the 
machinery,  as  though  he  intended  that  any  failure 
of  the  steamer  should  not  be  from  any  fault  on 
his  part. 


NEW    ENGINEER    OF    THE    PRIZE    STEAMER       281 

The  new  official  set  two  of  the  firemen  at  work, 
though  the  boilers  had  a  good  head  of  steam. 
The  gong  bell  gave  one  sharp  stroke,  and  Christy 
started  the  engine. 

The  Havana  was  headed  out  to  sea  when  she 
was  captured,  and  in  the  slack  water  she  had  not 
drifted  at  all.  He  went  ahead  slowly,  and  soon 
had  the  bell  to  stop  her ;  but  he  expected  this,  for 
the  channel  was  narrow,  and  it  required  consider- 
able manoeuvring  to  get  the  steamer  about.  Then 
he  happened  to  think  of  the  guns  on  the  Seahorse 
Key,  and  through  the  speaking  tube  he  passed 
the  word  to  Mr.  Flint  to  have  him  land  there 
in  order  to  take  the  guns  and  ammunition  on 
board. 

After  a  great  deal  of  backing  and  going  ahead, 
the  Havana  was  headed  for  the  ke}',  where  she 
was  stopped  as  near  to  it  as  the  depth  of  water 
would  permit.  The  guns  and  other  material  were 
brought  off,  two  of  the  firemen,  the  oiler,  and 
other  colored  men  of  the  crew  of  the  Havana 
assisting  in  the  work.  The  two  guns  that  were 
provided  with  carriages  were  mounted,  and*  placed 
on  the  forecastle.  They  were  loaded  and  pre- 
pared for  service  by  the  trained  gunners  of  the 


282  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

crew.  Christy  had  directed  all  this  to  be  done  on 
account  of  the  delay  which  had  attended  the  good 
fortune  of  the  expedition,  for  he  might  not  get 
out  of  the  bay  before  the  daylight  came  to  reveal 
the  presence  of  the  force  he  commanded  to  the 
people  on  the  shore. 

The  gong  rang  again  when  all  these  preparations 
had  been  made,  and  the  Havana  steamed  slowly  up 
the  channel  towards  the  bay.  The  oiler  appeared 
to.  have  finished  his  work  for  the  present.  He 
wras  a  more  intelligent  man  than  the  others  of  his 
color  on  board,  and  seemed  to  understand  his 
duties.  Christy  spoke  to  him,  for  he  said  nothing 
unless  he  was  spoken  to,  and  he  had  learned  that 
the  commander  of  the  expedition  was  doing  duty 
as  engineer  in  the  absence  of  any  other  competent 
person. 

"  How  many  schooners  are  there  at  the  landing 
place  at  the  keys  ?  "  asked  Christy. 

"  Only  two  schooners,  sir,"  replied  the  man 
very  respectfully. 

"  Are  they  loaded,  —  what  is  your  name  ?  " 
asked  the  engineer. 

"  My  name  is  Dolly,  sir." 

"  Dolly  ?     That  is  a  girl's  name." 


NEW    ENGINEER    OF    THE   PRIZE    STEAMER      283 

"  My  whole  name  is  Adolphus,  sir  ;  but  every- 
body calls  me  Dolly,  and  I  can't  help  myself,"  re- 
plied the  oiler  soberly,  as  though  he  had  a  real 
grievance  on  account  of  the  femininity  of  his  nick- 
name. "  The  two  schooners  are  not  quite  loaded, 
sir,  but  they  are  very  nearly  full.  They  had 
some  trouble  here,  among  the  hands." 

"  Had  some  trouble,  did  they  ?  I  should  think 
there  were  soldiers  enough  here  to  keep  every- 
thing straight.  How  many  artillerists  or  soldiers 
do  they  keep  here  ?  "  added  Christy. 

"  They  had  about  forty,  but  they  don't  have 
half  that  number  now." 

"What  has  become  of  them?  " 

"  They  were  sent  away  to  look  for  the  hands 
that  took  to  the  woods.  O.ie  of  the  officers  and 
about  half  of  the  men  were  sent  off  yesterday," 
replied  Doll}-,  who  seemed  willing  to  tell  all  he 
knew. 

"  Why  did  the  men  run  off  ?  "  asked  Christy 
curiously. 

"  They  brought  about  fifty  hands,  all  slaves, 
down  here  to  load  the  steamer  and  the  schooners. 
They  set  them  at  work  yesterday  morning,  and 
they  had  nearly  put  all  the  cotton  into  the  schoon- 


284  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

ers  at  dinner  time.  To  make  the  niggers  work 
harder,  they  gave  them  apple  jack." 

"  What  is  that  ? "  asked  the  engineer,  who 
never  heard  the  name  before. 

"  It  is  liquor  made  out  of  apples,  and  it  is  very 
strong,"  answered  Dolly ;  and  he  might  have 
added  that  it  was  the  vilest  intoxicant  to  be  found 
in  the  whole  world,  not  even  excepting  Russian 
vodka. 

"And  this  liquor  made  the  hands  drunk,  I 
suppose." 

"  They  did  not  give  them  enough  for  that,  sir ; 
but  it  made  them  kind  of  crazy,  and  they  wanted 
more  of  it.  That  made  the  trouble  ;  the  hands 
struck  for  liquor  before  dinner,  and  when  they 
didn't  get  it,  they  took  to  the  woods,  about  fifty 
of  them.  The  soldiers  had  to  get  their  dinner 
before  they  would  start  out  after  them ;  and  that 
is  the  reason  the  schooners  are  not  full  now,  sir, 
and  not  a  bale  had  been  put  into  this  steamer." 

"  But  she  seems  to  be  fully  loaded  now." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  Captain  Lonley  paid  the  soldiers 
that  were  left  to  load  the  Havana.  They  worked 
till  eleven  in  the  evening ;  they  were  not  used  to 
that  kind  of  work,  and  they  got  mighty  tired,  I 


NEW    ENGENEEK   OE   THE   PRIZE   STEAMER      285 

can  tell  you,"  said  Dolly,  with  the  first  smile 
Christy  had  seen  on  his  yellow  face,  for  he  ap- 
peared to  enjoy  the  idea  of  a  squad  of  white  men 
doing  niggers'  work. 

"  That  was  what  made  them  sleep  so  soundly, 
and  leave  the  battery  on  the  point  to  take  care  of 
itself,"  said  Christy.     "Where  were  the  officers?" 

"  Two  of  them  have  gone  on  the  hunt  for  the 
hands,  and  I  reckon  the  captain  is  on  a  visit  to  a 
planter  who  has  a  daughter,  about  forty  miles 
from  here." 

"  The  soldiers  were  sleeping  very  soundly  in  the 
barrack  about  two  this  morning ;  and  perhaps  they 
were  also  stimulated  with  apple  jack,"  added 
Christy.     "  Did  you  drink  any  of  it,  Dolly  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  I  never  drink  any  liquor,  for  I  am  a 
preacher,"  replied  the  oiler,  with  a  very  serious 
and  solemn  expression  on  his  face. 

"  How  do  you  happen  to  be  a  greaser  on  a 
steamer  if  you  are  a  preacher?" 
I  "  I  worked  on  a  steamer  on  the  Alabama  River 
before  I  became  a  preacher,  and  I  took  it  up  again. 
I  was  raised  in  a  preacher's  family,  and  worked  in 
the  house." 

He  talked  as  though  he  had  been  educated,  but 


286  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

he  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  had  picked 
up  all  his  learning  by  the  assistance  of  his  ears 
alone.  But  Christy  had  ascertained  all  he  wished 
to  know  in  regard  to  the  schooners,  and  he  was 
prepared  to  carry  out  his  mission  in  the^  bay.  At 
the  fort  it  appeared  that  all  the  commissioned 
officers  were  absent  from  the  post,  and  the  men, 
after  exhausting  themselves  at  work  to  which  they 
were  unaccustomed,  had  taken  to  their  bunks  and 
were  sleeping  off  the  fatigue,  and  perhaps  the 
effects  of  the  apple  jack.  While  he  was  thinking 
of  the  matter,  the  gong  struck,  and  Christy  stopped 
the  engine. 

"  Do  3'ou  know  anything  about  an  engine, 
Dolly  ? "  he  asked,  turning  to  the  oiler. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  run  the  engine  of  the  Havana  over- 
here  from  Mobile,"  replied  Dolly.  "  I  can  do  it  as 
well  as  any  one,  if  they  will  only  trust  me." 

"  Then  stand  by  the  machine,  and  obey  the  bells 
if  they  are  struck,"  added  Christy,  as  he  went  on 
deck. 

He  found  the  second  and  third  lieutenants  stand- 
ing on  the  rail  engaged  in  examining  the  surround- 
ings. The  day  was  just  beginning  to  show  itself 
in  the  east,  though  it  was  not  yet  light  enough  to 


NEW    ENGINEER    OF    THE    PRIZE    STEAMER      287 

enable  them  to  see  clearly  on  shore.  By  the  side 
of  the  railroad  building  was  a  pier,  at  which  the 
two  schooners  lay.  They  could  hear  the  sounds 
of  some  kind  of  a  stir  on  shore,  but  were  unable 
to  make  out  what  it  meant. 

"  We  are  losing  time,"  said  Christy,  as  he  took 
in  at  a  glance  all  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  know 
in  regard  to  the  situation. 

"  I  was  about  to  report  to  you,  Mr.  Passford ; 
but  Mr.  Amblen  wished  to  ascertain  whether  or 
not  there  is  a  battery  on  this  side  of  the  point," 
said  Flint. 

"  Do  you  find  anything.  Mr.  Amblen  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  can  see  nothing  that  looks  like  a 
battery,"  replied  the  pilot. 

"  Then  run  in,  and  we  will  make  fast  to  these 
schooners  and  haul  them  out,"  added  Christy  in 
hurried  tones. 

The  pilot  went  to  the  wheel,  and  rang  one  bell 
on  the  gong.  Dolly  started  the  engine  before 
Christy  could  reach  the  machine.  He  said  nothing 
to  the  oiler,  but  seated  himself  on  the  sofa,  and 
observed  his  movements.  A  few  minutes  later 
came  the  bell  to  stop  her,  and  then  two  bells  to 
back  her.     Dolly  managed  the  machine  properly 


288  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

and  promptly,  and  seemed  to  be  at  home  in  the 
engine  room.  The  color  of  his  skin  was  a  suffi- 
cient guaranty  of  his  loyalty,  but  Christy  remained 
below  long  enough  to  satisfy  himself  that  Dolly 
knew  what  he  was  about,  and  then  went  on  deck. 

By  this  time  the  noise  on  shore  had  become  more 
pronounced,  and  he  saw  the  dark  forms  of  several 
persons  on  the  wharf.  Flint  and  Amblen  were 
making  fast  to  the  nearest  schooner,  and  a  couple 
of  seamen  had  been  sent  on  shore  to  cast  off  the 
fasts  which  held  her  to  the  wharf.  This  was  the 
work  of  but  a  moment,  and  the  two  men  returned 
to  the  steamer  ;  but  they  were  closely  followed  by 
two  men,  one  of  whom  stepped  on  the  deck  of  the 
schooner. 

"  What  are  you  about  here  ?  "  demanded  the 
foremost  of  the  men,  in  a  rude  and  impertinent 
manner. 

"About  our  business,"  replied  Christy,  with 
cool  indifference. 

"  Who  are  you,  young  man  ?  "  demanded  the 
one  on  the  deck. 

"  I  am  yours  truly  ;  who  are  you  ?  " 

"  None  of  your  business  who  I  am  !  I  asked  you 
a  question,  and  you  will  answer  it  if  you  know 


NEW    ENGINEER    OF    THE   PRIZE   STEAMER       289 

wlien  you  are  well  off,"  blustered  the  man,  who 
was  rather  too  fat  to  be  dangerous ;  and  by  this 
i^me,  Christy  discovered  that  he  wore  something 
like  a  uniform. 

"  I  will  try  to  find  out  when  I  am  well  off,  and 
then  I  will  answer  you,"  replied  Christy. 

"  All  fast,  sir,"  reported  Flint. 

The  commander  of  the  expedition,  turning  his 
back  to  the  fat  man,  went  forward  to  the  pilot 
house. 


290  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

THE   BATTLE   WITH   THE   SOLDIERS 

Mr.  Amblen  went  to  the  pilot  house,  and  rang 
two  bells.  Dolly  responded  properly  by  starting 
the  engine  on  the  reverse,  and  the  schooner  along- 
side began  to  move  away  from  the  wharf,  for  the 
stern  of  the  Havana  pointed  out  into  the  bay. 

"  Stop,  there  !  What  are  you  about  ?  "  shouted 
the  fat  man  on  the  deck  of  the  schooner. 

"About  going,"  replied  Christy. 

"  These  vessels  are  the  property  of  a  citizen  of 
the  Confederate  States,  and  I  command  you  to 
stop,'5  yelled  the  fat  man  with  all  the  voice  he 
could  muster. 

"  All  right,''  replied  Christy,  as  the  gong  sounded 
to  stop  her.  "  Now,  Mr.  Flint,  cast  off  the  fasts, 
and  let  the  schooner  go  astern,"  he  added  to  the 
second  lieutenant. 

"  All  clear,  sir,"  replied  Flint  a  moment  later, 
and  after  the  steamer  lost  her  headway,  the  vessel 


THE   BATTLE   WITH   THE   SOLDIERS  291 

continued  to  back,  though  the  Havana  was  checked 
by  the  engine. 

The  fat  man  went  adrift  in  the  schooner,  but 
Christy  gave  no  further  attention  to  him.  The 
steamer  was  started  ahead  again ;  her  bow  was 
run  alongside  of  the  other  vessel  at  the  wharf, 
and  Flint  proceeded  in  the  same  manner  as  with 
the  first  one. 

"  Orderly ! "  shouted  the  fat  man,  evidently 
addressing1  the  man  who  had  come  to  the  schooner 
with  him,  and  had  retreated  to  the  wharf  when 
the  vessel  began  to  move. 

"  Captain  Rowly  ! "  replied  the  man,  who  was 
doubtless  the  orderly  sergeant  of  the  company. 

"  Go  to  the  barracks  and  have  the  men  haul  the 
four  field  pieces  over  to  the  wharf,"  yelled  the  fat 
captain. 

"  All  right,  little  one !  Have  them  hauled 
over  by  all  means,"  said  Christy,  as  the  men  made 
fast  to  the  other  schooner,  and  cast  off  the  fasts. 

But  it  was  soon  evident  that  the  sleepy  sol- 
diers had  been  roused  from  their  slumbers  by 
some  other  agency  than  the  orderly,  though  it  was 
not  quite  possible  for  them  to  haul  over  the  four 
guns,  as  they  happened  to  be  on  the  forward  deck 


292  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

of  the  Havana.  But  the  men  were  armed  with 
muskets,  and  were  capable  of  doing  a  great  deal 
of  mischief  with  them.  Christy  hurried  up  the 
men  at  the  fasts,  but  they  had  about  finished  their 
task. 

"All  clear,  Mr.  Passford,"  called  Mr.  Flint,  as 
the  soldiers  double-quicked  across  the  railroad  to 
the  wharf,  upon  which  there  was  still  a  huge  pile 
of  bales  of  cotton. 

"  Back  her,  Mr.  Amblen,"  said  Christy,  as  he 
hastened  aft  to  avoid  a  collision  with  the  other 
schooner. 

But  the  tide  had  begun  to  recede,  and  had 
carried  the  first  vessel  to  a  safe  distance  from  the 
wharf. 

The  soldiers  reached  the  edge  of  the  wharf,  and 
were  probably  under  the  command  of  the  ordeily 
by  this  time.  At  any  rate  they  marched  farther 
down  the  pier,  where  they  could  be  nearer  to  the 
Havana  as  she  backed  away.  Then  the  troops 
fired  a  volley  at  the  steamer ;  but  in  the  darkness 
they  did  no  serious  injury  to  the  party,  though 
two  seamen  were  slightly  wounded. 

"  Cast  off  the  fasts  !  "  shouted  Christy,  when  he 
realized  that  some  of  his  men  were  in  a  fair  way  to 


THE   BATTLE  *W1TH    THE   SOLDIERS  293 

be  shot  down  before  they  could  get  the  two  schoon- 
ers alongside  and  properly  secured  for  the  trip  to 
the  Bronx,  and  the  order  was  promptly  obeyed. 
"  Now,  check  her,  Mr.  Amblen ;  "  and  two  bells 
were  sounded  on  the  gong,  after  one  to  stop  her. 

The  second  schooner  kept  on  her  course  out 
into  the  bay  to  join  the  first  one  cast  loose  ;  but 
Christy  feared  that  they  might  get  aground,  and 
give  them  trouble.  The  seventeen  soldiers  whom 
he  had  counted  in  their  bunks  appeared  to  have 
been  reinforced  either  by  the  return  of  the  absent 
party,  or  by  the  civilians  in  the  place,  for  they 
presented  a  more  formidable  front  than  the 
smaller  number  could  make.  Whatever  the  num- 
ber of  the  defenders  of  the  place,  they  could 
harass  the  expedition  while  the  men  were  prepar- 
ing for  the  final  departure. 

"  With  what  were  those  two  guns  charged,  Mr. 
Flint?"  asked  Christy. 

"With  solid  shot,  sir,"  replied  the  second 
lieutenant. 

"  Open  fire  on  the  wharf,  and  then  load  with  the 
shrapnel,"  added  Christy. 

The  two  guns,  which  had  been  placed  in  proper 
position  for  use  on  the  top-gaJlant  forecastle,  were 


294  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

aimed  by  Flint  himself,  and  discharged.  The  re- 
port shook  the  steamer,  and  Christy,  who  retained 
his  position  on  the  quarter  deck,  heard  a  scream 
of  terror,  coming  from  a  female,  issue  from  the 
companion  way,  at  the  head  of  which  a  seaman 
had  been  placed  as  a  sentinel  over  the  officers 
below. 

"What  was  that,  Neal?"  asked  the  commander 
of  the  expedition. 

"It  was  the  scream  of  a  lady,  sir,  and  that  is 
all  I  know  about  it,"  replied  the  man.  "I  haven't 
seen  any  lady,  sir,  and  I  think  she  must  have  been 
asleep  so  far.  The  captain  tried  to  come  on  deck 
a  while  ago,  but  I  sent  him  back,  sir." 

By  this  time  the  two  field  pieces  had  been 
loaded  again,  and  they  were  discharged.  Christy 
watched  the  effect,  and  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  the  whole  troop  on  the  wharf  retire  behind 
the  great  pile  of  bales  of  cotton.  A  random  fire 
was  kept  up  from  this  defence,  but  the  soldiers 
were  safe  behind  their  impenetrable  breastwork. 
Flint  continued  to  fire  into  it. 

At  the  report  of  the  guns,  nearly  together, 
which  made  the  Havana  shake,  and  everything  on 
board  of  her  rattle,  for  she  was  not  built  to  carry 


THE   BATTLE   WITH   THE   SOLDIERS  295 

a  battery  of  guns,  another  scream  came  forth 
from  the  companion  way.  A  moment  later, 
Christ}7  saw  a  female  form  ascending  the  stairs. 
The  sentinel  placed  his  cutlass  across  the  passage ; 
but  the  lieutenant  told  him  to  let  her  come  on 
deck  if  she  desired  to  do  so. 

It  was  light  enough  for  the  gallant  young 
officer  to  see  that  she  was  young  and  fair,  though 
she  had  evidently  dressed  herself  in  great  haste. 
She  looked  around  her  with  astonishment,  per- 
haps to  find  that  the  steamer  was  no  longer  at 
the  wharf.  The  guns  on  the  forecastle  were 
again  discharged,  and  she  shrunk  back  at  the 
sound. 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed,  miss,"  said  Christy,  in  his 
gentlest  tones.  "  But  I  must  sa}r  that  you  will  be 
safer  in  the  cabin  than  on  deck." 

"  Will  you  please  to  tell  me  what  has  happened, 
sir,  or  what  is  going  to  happen  ?  "  asked  the  lady ; 
and  the  listener  thought  he  had  never  heard  a 
sweeter  voice,  though  he  might  not  have  thought 
so  if  he  had  heard  it  at  Bonnydale,  or  anywhere 
else  except  in  the  midst  of  the  din  of  pealing 
guns  and  the  rattling  of  musketry. 

"  I  can  tell  you  what  has  happened ;  but  as  I 


296  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

am  not  a  prophet,  I  cannot  so  accurately  inform 
you  in  regard  to  what  is  going  to  happen,"  he 
replied. 

"  But  what  has  occurred  on  board  of  the 
Havana  ?  "  she  interposed,  rather  impatiently. 

"  The  Havana  has  been  captured  by  an  expedi- 
tion, of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  in  command, 
from  the  United  States  gunboat  Bronx.  Just  now 
we  are  defending  ourselves  from  an  attack  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  place.  As  to  the  future,  miss,  I 
have  no  reasonable  doubt  that  we  shall  be  able  to 
get  the  steamer  and  two  schooners  we  have  also 
captured  alongside  the  Bronx,  where  all  the  prizes 
will  be  subject  to  the  order  of  her  commander. 
Permit  me  to  advise  you  to  retire  to  the  cabin, 
miss,  and  later,  I  shall  be  happy  to  give  you  all 
the  information  in  my  power,"  said  Christy,  touch- 
ing his  cap  to  her,  and  pointing  to  the  companion 
way. 

She  accepted  the  advice,  and  went  down  the 
steps.  The  young  officer  had  no  time  then  to 
wonder  who  and  what  she  was,  for  he  realized 
that  there  was  little  hope  of  stopping  the  desul- 
tory firing  from  behind  the  cotton  pile ;  and  per- 
haps by  this  time  the  soldiers  realized  what  had 


THE    BATTLE    WITH    THE    SOLDIERS  297 

become  of  their  four  field  pieces,  for  they  knew 
that  the  Havana  had  not  been  armed  when  they 
loaded  her  with  cotton. 

Christy  went  forward  to  set  the  officers  at  work 
in  picking  up  the  two  prizes,  and  as  he  stopped  to 
look  down  into  the  engine  room,  he  felt  his  cap 
knocked  off  his  head,  and  heard  the  whizzing  of  a 
bullet  unpleasantly  near  his  ears.  He  picked  up 
his  cap,  and  found  a  bullet  hole  through  the  top 
of  it.  If  it  had  gone  an  inch  or  two  lower,  Mr. 
Flint  would  have  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  expedition  without  any  ceremonies.  Though 
there  was  no  reason  for  it,  this  incident  seemed  to 
provoke  him,  for  it  assured  him  that  he  could  not 
pick  up  his  prizes  without  exposing  his  men  to 
this  nasty  firing  for  some  time  longer. 

It  was  now  light  enough  for  him  to  make  out 
the  situation  of  the  breastwork  of  cotton,  and  he 
saw  that  it  was  a  long  and  narrow  pile,  probably 
near  a  siding  of  the  railroad  where  the  bales  had 
been  unloaded  from  the  cars.  Another  glance  at 
the  surroundings  in  regard  to  the  point  enabled 
him  to  make  up  his  mind  what  to  do,  and  he  did 
not  lose  a  moment  in  putting  his  plan  into  execu- 
tion.   The  firing  of  shot  and  shrapnel  at  the  cotton 


298  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

pile  seemed  to  produce  no  adequate  effect,  and  he 
ordered  Flint  to  cease  his  operations. 

"  Back  her,  Mr.  Amblen,"  he  added  to  the  pilot. 
"  Back  her  at  full  speed." 

The  schooners  were  doing  very  well ;  instead  of 
wandering  off  into  the  bay,  they  had  fallen  into 
the  channel,  and  were  drifting  with  the  tide. 
Several  persons  appeared  on  the  deck  of  'each  of 
them,  and  it  was  plain  that  a  portion  of  the  crews 
had  been  asleep  on  board  of  them.  While  he  was 
•observing  them,  he  discovered  two  boats  coming 
out  from  behind  the  point,  and  making  for  the  two 
vessels.  This  movement  indicated  an  attempt  to 
recapture  the  prizes. 

"  Port  the  helm,  Mr.  Amblen,  and  circle  around 
till  the  bow  points  in  the  direction  of  those  boats 
coming  out  from  beyond  the  point,"  said  Christy. 
"  Mr.  Flint,  man  your  guns  again  at  once,  and 
drop  some  solid  shot  into  those  boats." 

The  Havana  continued  to  back  till  the  guns 
would  bear  on  the  boats,  and  then  Flint  delivered 
his  fire.  The  headmost  of  the  boats  was  smashed, 
and  was  a  wreck  on  the  bay.  The  other  hastened 
to  pick  up  the  crew,  and  then  pulled  for  the  shore 
with  all  possible  speed,  though  not  till  two  other 


THE   BATTLE    WITH   THE   SOLDIERS  299 

boats,  apparently  filled  with  soldiers,  were  discov- 
ered approaching  the  retreating  boat. 

Christy  did  not  wait  to  dispose  of  these,  but 
mounted  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  and  ordered 
the  guns  to  be  loaded  with  shells.  Then  he 
waited  till  the  steamer  reached  a  point  off  the 
end  of  the  peninsula,  when  he  gave  the  order  to 
stop  and  back  her.  Sighting  the  first  gun  himself, 
he  directed  the  man  at  the  lockstring  to  fire.  He 
waited  a  moment  for  the  smoke  to  clear  away,  and 
then,  with  his  glass,  he  saw  several  forms  lying  on 
the  wharf  by  the  side  of  the  cotton  pile.  He  had 
fired  so  as  to  rake  the  rear  of  this  breastwork,  and 
before  the  soldiers  there  understood  what  he  was 
doing.  Those  who  had  not  dropped  before  the  fire 
were  picking  up  their  wounded  companions,  and 
retreating  with  all  practicable  haste. 

It  was  not  necessary  to  discharge  the  other  gun, 
and  it  was  swung  round  and  brought  to  bear  on 
the  two  boats  advancing  towards  the  prizes,  the 
men  in  which  were  pulling  with  the  most  desperate 
haste.  Flint  took  careful  aim  this  time,  and  the 
gun  was  discharged.  The  shrapnel  with  which  it 
was  charged  did  not  knock  the  boat  to  pieces  as  a 
solid  shot  might  have  done,  but  two  of  the  oars 


800  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

were  seen  to  drop  into  the  water,  and  both  boats 
began  to  retreat,  which  was  quite  a  proper  thing 
for  them  to  do  in  face  of  such  a  destructive  fire. 

There  was  nothing  more  to  detain  the  expedition 
at  the  place,  and  the  two  prizes  were  picked  up, 
made  fast,  one  on  each  side  of  the  Havana,  and 
then  the  bell  to  go  ahead  was  sounded.  The  pilot 
then  informed  Christy  that  he  had  made  out  the 
Bronx  approaching  at  a  distance  of  not  more  than 
three  miles  beyond  the  Seahorse  Key.  Probably 
Captain  Blowitt  had  heard  the  guns,  and  was 
coining  in  to  assist  in  the  fight. 


THE    INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  301 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

THE   INNOCENT    CAPTAIN   OF   THE   GARRISON 

The  firing  of  the  musketry  was  continued  from 
the  end  of  the  point  by  a  small  squad  of  soldiers, 
though  the  most  of  them  seemed  to  have  gone 
over  to  the  other  side  of  the  peninsula  to  take  part 
in  the  attempt  to.  recapture  the  schooners  with 
boats,  which  had  utterly  failed.  It  was  now  fairly 
light,  the  battle  had  been  fought,  and  the  boat 
expedition  had  done  all  and  more  than  all  it  had 
been  expected  to  accomplish. 

Christy  had  hardly  expected  to  do  anything 
more  than  obtain  information  that  would  enable 
the  Bronx  to  capture  the  schooners,  and  nothing 
had  been  said  about  the  steamer  that  had  been 
found  there.  It  appeared  from  the  statement  of 
Captain  Lonley  that  the  Havana  was  the  property 
of  his  uncle  Homer  Passford ;  and  doubtless  he 
had  chosen  Cedar  Keys  as  a  safer  place,  at  this 
stage  of  the  war,  to  send  out  his  cotton  than  the 
vicinity  of  his  plantation. 


302  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

Christy  certainly  had  no  desire  to  capture  the 
property  of  his  father's  brother  rather  than  that 
of  any  other  Confederate  planter,  for  he  had  had 
no  knowledge  of  his  operations  in  Florida.  But 
he  was  quite  as  patriotic  on  his  own  side  as  his 
uncle  was  on  the  other  side,  and  as  it  was  his 
duty  to  take  or  destroj*  the  goods  of  the  enemy, 
he  was  not  sorry  he  had  been  so  fortunate,  though 
he  did  regret  that  Homer  Passford  had  been  the 
principal  sufferer  from  the  visit  of  the  Bronx  to 
this  coast. 

The  planter  had  now  lost  three  schooners  and 
one  steamer  loaded  with  cotton  ;  but  Christy  was 
satisfied  that  this  would  not  abate  by  one  jot  or 
tittle  his  interest  in  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 
The  young  man  did  not  think  of  such  a  thing  as 
punishing  him  for  taking  part  in  the  rebellion,  for 
he  knew  that  Homer  would  be  all  the  more  earnest 
in  his  faith  because  he  had  been  a  financial  martyr 
on  account  of  his  devotion  to  it. 

The  Havana,  with  one  of  the  schooners  on  each 
side  of  her,  was  steaming  slowly  down  the  chan- 
nel, and  the  Bronx  was  approaching  at  a  distance 
of  not  more  than  three  miles.  For  the  first  time 
since  he  obtained  possession  of  the  prizes,  he  had 


THE  INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  803 

an  opportunity  to  look  them  over,  and  collect  his 
thoughts.  From  the  very  beginning  of  the  enter- 
prise he  had  been  extremely  anxious  in  regard  to 
the  result. 

His  orders  had  been  to  obtain  all  the  informa- 
tion he  could  in  regard  to  the  position  of  the 
vessels  that  were  reported  to  be  at  this  port,  and 
to  do  anything  the  circumstances  would  permit 
without  incurring  too  much  risk.  The  adventure 
had  been  full  of  surprises  from  first  to  last.  Some- 
thing new  and  sometimes  something  strange  had 
been  continually  exposed  to  him,  and  it  looked  to 
him  just  as  though  all  the  preparations  to  accom- 
plish the  result  he  had  achieved  had  been  made 
for  his  coming. 

Before  the  boats  went  around  into  the  bay,  he 
had  been  satisfied  with  the  finding  and  carrying 
off  of  the  twelve-pounders.  He  had  hardly  ex- 
pected to  do  anything  more,  and  he  knew  that 
Captain  Blowitt  would  be  amused  as  well  as 
pleased  at  this  rather  singular  feat.  The  removal 
of  the  four  field  pieces  had  rendered  the  capture 
of  the  schooners  possible  and  even  easy,  as  it 
would  not  have  been  if  the  order  of  Captain 
Rowly  to  drag  them  over  to  the  wharf  could  have 
been  carried  out. 


304  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

The  taking  of  the  Havana  had  been  rather  a 
side  incident,  hardly  connected  with  the  rest  of 
the  affair.  Everything  had  favored  the  young 
commander  of  the  expedition,  and  he  had  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities,  though  he  had  em- 
braced some  of  them  blindly,  without  being  able 
to  foresee  the  consequences  of  his  action  at  the 
time  it  was  taken.  He  had  time  now  to  review 
the  events  of  the  morning,  and  the  result  was  in 
the  highest  degree  pleasing  to  him. 

On  board  of  the  two  schooners  the  crew  had 
put  in  an  appearance ;  but  when  he  inquired  of 
the  negroes  he  learned  that  the  captains  of  the 
vessels  were  not  on  board.  The  mate  of  each 
was  on  deck,  and  they  were  the  only  white  men. 
On  the  rail  of  the  one  on  the  port  side  sat  the  fat 
captain  of  the  garrison  of  the  place.  Thus  far  he 
had  said  nothing,  and  he  appeared  to  be  sitting 
figuratively  on  the  stool  of  repentance,  for  he  had 
not  been  faithful  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him. 

Dolly  had  said  he  had  gone  to  visit  a  planter 
who  had  a  daughter ;  but  this  statement  did  not 
appear  to  be  £kie,  for  he  had  put  in  an  appearance 
early,  as  the  Havana- was  making  fast  to  the  first 
prize.     H  >   had   left  his  men  in  the   barrack   to 


THE   INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  305 

sleep  off  their  fatigue  and  apple  jack  after  their 
unaccustomed  labor  in  loading  the  steamer.  Pie 
had  not  so  much  as  posted  a  sentinel,  who  might 
have  enabled  him  to  defeat  the  invaders  of  the 
port,  even  with  his  diminished  force.  If  Homer 
Passford  had  been  on  the  spot,  his  faith  in  the 
Providence  that  watched  over  his  holy  cause 
might  have  been  shaken. 

"  Good  morning,  Captain  Rowly,"  said  Christy 
cheerfully,  as  he  walked  up  to  the  disconsolate 
captain.     "  I  hope  you  are  feeling  quite  well." 

"  Not  very  well ;  things  are  mixed,"  replied  the 
fat  officer,  looking  down  upon  the  planks  of  the 
deck. 

"  Mixed,  are  they  ?  "  added  Christy. 

"I  can't  see  how  it  all  happened,"  mused  the 
military  gentleman. 

"•How  what  happened,  Captain  Rowly?"  in- 
quired Christy. 

"  All  the  vessels  in  the  place  captured,  and 
carried  off !  "  exclaimed  the  late  commander  of 
the  garrison. 

"  I  don't  discover  the  least  difficulty  in  explain- 
ing how  it  all  happened.  You  were  so  very  oblig- 
ing as  to  allow  your  men  to  go  to  sleep  in  the 


306  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

barrack  without  even  posting  a  sentinel  at  the 
battery.  That  made  the  whole  thing  as  easy  as 
tumbling  off  a  sawhorse,"  replied  the  leader  of 
the  expedition,  without  trying  to  irritate  the 
repentant  captain  of  the  forces. 

"  And,  like  an  infernal  thieving  Yankee,  3^011 
went  into  the  fort  and  stole  the  guns  !  "  exclaimed 
Captain  Rowly,  beginning  to  boil  with  rage  as  he 
thought  of  his  misfortune. 

"  Well,  it  did  not  occur  to  me  that  I  ought  to 
have  waked  you  and  told  you  what  I  was  about 
before  taking  the  guns." 

"  It  was  a  nasty  Yankee  trick ! "  roared  the 
soldier. 

"  I  suppose  it  was,  captain  ;  but  we  Yankees 
cannot  very  well  help  what  was  born  in  our 
blood  ;  and  I  have  heard  that  some  of  your  honest 
and  high-toned  people  have  made  bigger  steals 
than  this  one.  While  I  have  carried  off  only  four 
twelve-pounders,  your  folks  have  taken  entire 
forts,  including  scores  of  guns  of  all  calibres,"  re- 
plied Christy,  amused  at  the  view  the  fat  gentle- 
man took  of  his  operations. 

"Our  people  took  nothing  that  did  not  belong 
to  them,  for  the  forts  were  within  our  territory," 
retorted  the  soldier. 


THE   INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  307 

"  That  was  just  my  case.  I  have  the  honor  to 
be  an  officer  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  as 
these  guns  happened  to  be  within  the  territory  of 
our  government,  of  course  it  was  all  right  that  I 
should  take  them." 

"You  stole  the  vessels  after  I  ordered  you  to 
stop,"  muttered  Captain  Rowly. 

"  Precisely  so  ;  but,  being  in  a  hurry  just  then, 
I  hadn't  time  to  stop,"  laughed  Christy. 

"  Where  are  you  going  now  ?  You  knew  I  was 
on  the  deck  of  this  schooner,  and  you  have 
brought  me  off  here  where  I  didn't  want  to  come. 
I  am  not  used  to  the  water,  and  I  am  afraid  I  shall 
get  sea-sick,"  continued  the  fat  officer. 

"  Perhaps  we  ma}r  be  able  to  provide  a  nurse 
for  you  if  you  are  very  sick." 

"  Why  don't  you  answer  nry  question,  and  tell 
me  where  you  are  going  ?  "  demanded  the  soldier. 

"  We  are  going  out  here  a  mile  or  two  farther, 
just  to  take  the  air  and  get  up  an  appetite  for 
breakfast." 

"  But  I  object !  " 

"  Do  you  indeed  ?  " 

"And  I  protest!" 

"Against  what?" 


308  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Against  being  carried  off  in  this  way.  You 
knew  I  was  on  board  of  the  schooner." 

"I  confess  that  I  did  know  you  were  on  board, 
though  I  must  add  that  it  was  your  own  fault." 

"  I  had  a  right  on  board  of  the  vessel." 

"  I  don't  deny  it.  You  have  a  sword  at  your 
side ;  but  as  you  neglected  to  use  it,  you  will 
excuse  me  if  I  ask  you  to  give  it  to  me,"  added 
Christy,  reaching  out  for  the  weapon. 

"  Give  you  my  sword !  "  exclaimed  Captain 
liowly. 

"  It  is  a  formality  rather  insisted  upon  on  such 
occasions  as  the  present." 

"  I  don't  see  it." 

"  You  don't  ?  Then  I  must  say  that  I  think  you 
are  rather  obtuse,  Captain  Rowly,  and  1  shall  be 
under  the  painful  necessity  of  helping  you  to  see 
it.     As  a  prisoner  of  war  —  " 

"As  what?"  demanded  the  soldier. 

"  I  regard  you  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  I  must 
trouble  you  to  give  me  your  sword  in  token  of 
your  surrender." 

"  I  was  not  taken  in  a  battle." 

"  Very  true  ;  your  men  fought  the  battle  after 
you  had  left  them.     I  have  no  more  time  to  argue 


THE   INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  309 

the  question.  Will  you  surrender  your  sword,  or 
will  you  have  the  battle  now  ?  Two  or  three  of 
my  men  will  accommodate  you  with  a  fight  on  a 
small  scale  if  you  insist  upon  it." 

"  Don't  you  intend  to  send  me  back  to  the 
Keys  ? "  asked  the  captain,  whose  military  edu- 
cation appeared  to  have  been  neglected,  so  that 
his  ideas  of  a  state  of  war  were  very  vague. 

"  I  have  not  the  remotest  idea  of  doing  anything 
of  the  sort.     Your  sword,  if  you  please." 

"  This  sword  was  presented  to  me  by  the  citizens 
of  my  town  —  " 

"  Here,  Boxie  and  Lanon,  relieve  this  gentleman 
of  his  sword,"  added  Christy,  as  he  saw  the  young 
lady  coming  up  the  companion  way. 

"  Oh,  I  will  give  it  up,  if  you  really  say  so ; 
but  this  is  a  queer  state  of  things  when  my  sword, 
presented  to  me  by  my  fellow-citizens,  is  to  be 
taken  from  me  without  any  warrant  of  law,"  said 
Captain  Rowly,  as  he  handed  the  sword  to  Christy, 
who  returned  it  when  it  had  done  its  duty  as  a 
token  of  submission. 

The  prisoner  was  marched  to  the  forecastle  of 
the  Havana,  and  put  under  guard.  Christy 
walked  towards    the   young   lady,  who   had   evi- 


310  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

dently  dressed  herself  for  the  occasion.  She  was 
not  only  young,  but  she  was  beautiful,  and  the 
young  commander  of  the  expedition  was  strongly 
impressed  by  her  grace  and  loveliness.  He  had 
heard  her  speak  in  the  gloom  of  the  early  morning, 
and  she  had  a  silvery  voice.  He  could  not  but 
wonder  what  she  was  doing  on  board  of  a  blockade 
runner. 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  —  I  have  not  the  pleas- 
ure of  being  able  to  call  you  by  name,"  Christy 
began  as  he  touched  his  cap  to  her,  and  bowed  his 
involuntary  homage. 

"  Miss  Pembroke,"  she  added. 

"  I  trust  you  are  as  comfortable  as  the  circum- 
stances will  permit,  Miss  Pembroke.  I  hope  you 
have  ceased  to  be  alarmed,  as  you  were  when  I 
saw  you  before." 

"  I  am  not  alarmed,  but  I  am  exceedingly 
anxious  in  regard  to  the  future,  Mr.  —  " 

"  Mr.  Passford." 

"  I  only  wish  to  know  what  is  to  become  of  us, 
Mr.  Passford." 

"  You  speak  in  the  plural,  Miss  Pembroke,  as 
though  you  were  not  alone." 

"  I   am    not    alone,  sir ;    my  father,    who    is    an 


THE   INNOCENT   GARRISON-CAPTAIN  311 

invalid,  is  in  the  cabin.  The  excitement  of  this 
morning  has  had  a  bad  effect  upon  him." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it.  I  suppose  you  embarked 
in  this  steamer  with  the  desire  to  reach  some  other 
place?" 

"  We  reside  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  all 
that  remain  of  our  family  are  on  board  of  this 
steamer,  and  all  we  desire  is  to  get  home.  We 
have  lived  two  years  in  Southern  Georgia  for  my 
father's  health." 

Christy  thought  they  would  be  able  to  reach 
New  York. 


312  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

THE   BEARER   OF   DESPATCHES 

Christy  had  assured  himself  that  the  father  of 
the  beautiful  young  lady  was  a  loyal  citizen,  and 
then  he  pointed  out  to  her  in  what  manner  they 
might  reach  their  home,  which  was  at  Newburgh 
on  the  Hudson.  Mr.  Pembroke  was  not  a  wealthy 
man,  though  he  had  the  means  of  supporting  what 
was  left  of  his  family  comfortably.  But  Christy 
had  to  ask  to  be  excused,  as  the  Bronx  was  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  Havana. 

He  directed  Mr.  Amblen  to  stop  her,  so  as  to 
permit  the  gunboat  to  come  alongside  of  her.  As 
the  Bronx  came  within  hailing  distance  of  the 
steamer  towing  the  schooners,  a  hearty  cheer 
burst  from  the  crew  on  the  forecastle  of  the 
former,  for  the  prizes  alongside  of  the  Havana 
indicated  the  success  of  the  expedition.  The  sea 
was  smooth,  and  the  naval  steamer  came  alongside 
of  the  port  schooner,  and  Christy,  who  had  put 


THE    BEAKER    OF    DESPATCHES  313 

himself  in  position  to  do  so  as  soon  as  he  under- 
stood her  intension,  sprang  lightly  on  board  of  her. 

Captain  Blowitt  was  on  the  quarter  deck,  and 
the  commander  of  the  expedition  hastened  into  his 
presence.  Of  course  Christy  could  not  help  real- 
izing that  he  had  been  successful,  however  the  cir- 
cumstances had  aided  him,  and  he  felt  sure  of  his 
welcome. 

The  commander  of  the  Bronx  was  a  man  that 
weighed  two  hundred  pounds,  and  his  fat  cheeks 
were  immediately  distended  with  laughter  as  soon 
as  he  saw  his  executive  officer  hastening  towards 
him.  He  almost  doubled  himself  up  in  his  mirth 
as  he  looked  into  the  young  man's  sober  face,  for 
Christy  was  struggling  to  appear  as  dignified  as 
the  importance  of  the  occasion  seemed  to  require 
of  him.  But  the  commander  restrained  himself  as 
much  as  he  could,  and  extended  his  hand  to  the 
first  lieutenant,  which  the  }Toung  man  accepted, 
and  received  a  pressure  that  was  almost  enough  to 
crush  his  feebler  paw.  In  spite  of  himself,  he 
could  not  help  laughing  in  sympathy  with  his 
superior. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  bring  it  all  off  with 
you,  Mr.  Passford,"  said  Captain  Blowitt,  as  soon 


314  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

as  he  was  able  to  speak,  for  his  risibles  seemed  to 
have  obtained  complete  control  of  Mm. 

"  I  have  brought  it  all  off  with  ine,  captain," 
replied  Christy,  though  he  had  not  yet  got  at  the 
point  of  the  joke,  and  spoke  at  a  venture. 

"  What,  the  whole  State  of  Florida !  "  exclaimed 
the  commander. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  did  not  bring  it  all  off  with  me,  for 
I  did  not  think  it  would  be  quite  safe  to  do  this,  for 
it  might  set  the  Gulf  Stream  to  running  in  a  new 
course,  and  derange  navigation  by  making  all  our 
charts  useless,"  replied  Christy,  smoothing  down 
the  muscles  of  his  face  so  that  he  looked  as  sober 
as  before. 

"  I  thought  from  the  appearance  that  you  had 
brought  it  all  off,"  added  Captain  Blowitt.  "  Did 
I  instruct  you  to  bring  it  off?  " 

"No,  sir;  you  were  considerate  enough  to  say 
that  you  did  not  expect  me  to  capture  the  whole 
State,  and  therefore  I  have  not  done  it." 

"  But  we  heard  heavy  guns  this  morning,"  con- 
tinued the  commander,  putting  on  his  sober  face, 
for  he  could  be  as  serious  as  a  judge,  though  his 
adipose  structure  compelled  him  to  be  a  great 
joker  at  suitable  times.     "  You  had  no  boat  guns." 


THE    BEAKER    OF    DESPATCHES  315 

"  No,  sir ;  but  we  picked  up  four  twelve-pounder 
field  pieces,  which  you  see,  two  of  them  on  car- 
riages, on  the  forecastle  of  that  steamer.  We 
found  the  garrison  asleep,  and  we  carried  off  the 
four  guns  with  which  the  battery  was  mounted. 
We  put  them  on  the  Seahorse  Key,  and  went  into 
the  bay  to  see  what  was  there,  sir.  We  found  two 
schooners,  and  on  the  way  we  took  the  steamer. 
When  we  were  hauling  out  the  two  schooners,  the 
garrison  woke  up,  and  attempted  to  drive  us  off 
with  musketry.  We  beat  them  off  and  sunk  two 
boats  with  the  field  pieces.  This  is  my  report  in 
brief." 

"  And  a  very  good  report  it  is,  Mr.  Passford.  I 
did  not  expect  you  to  do  anything  more  than  bring 
off  full  information  in  regard  to  the  situation  at 
the  port,"  added  Captain  Blowitt. 

"  But  you  ordered  me  to  do  anything  I  could  to 
prepare  the  way  for  a  visit  from  the  Bronx," 
suggested  Christy. 

"  And  you  have  prepared  the  way  by  bringing 
off  everything  at  the  port,  so  that  there  is  nothing 
for  the  Bronx  to  do  there,"  said  the  commander 
with  a  smile. 

"  When  I  found  that  the  garrison  were  all  asleep, 


316  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

I  thought  it  was  my  duty  not  to  lose  the  oppor- 
tunity that  was  thus  presented  to  me.  Everything 
was  in  our  favor,  and  I  was  led  to  do  one  thing 
after  another  till  there  was  nothing  more  to  do. 
I  found  that  Captain  Lonley,  the  worthy  gentle- 
man who  had  made  prisoners  of  Mr.  Flint  and 
myself  on  Santa  Rosa  Island,  was  in  command  of 
the  steamer.  He  was  not  glad  to  see  me  ;  and 
from  him  I  learned  that  the  Havana,  which  is  her 
name,  belonged  to  my  uncle  Homer;  and  so  did 
the  schooners." 

"  Then  your  uncle  has  a  heavy  charge  against 
you,  for  you  have  now  taken  four  of  his  vessels." 

"  Possibly  the  Confederate  government  is  behind 
him  in  this  operation.  I  don't  know ;  but  I  am 
sure  that  the  loss  of  every  dollar  he  has  in  the 
world  would  not  change  his  views  in  regard  to  the 
justice  of  his  cause.  But,  Captain  Blowitt,  there 
are  on  board  of  the  Havana  a  gentleman  and  his 
daughter,  who  reside  in  Newburgh.  He  is  an 
invalid  and  a  loyal  citizen,"  continued  Christy,  as 
he  happened  to  see  Miss  Pembroke  on  the  quarter 
deck  of  the  steamer. 

"  They  wish  to  go  home,  I  suppose,  and  there 
will  soon  be  an  opportunity  for  them  to  do  so," 


THE    BEARER    OF    DESPATCHES  317 

• 

replied  the  captain,  as  he  went  with  his  lieutenant 
to  take  a  look  at  the  prizes. 

He  gave  particular  attention  to  the  Havana, 
which  it  was  said  had  been  built  to  run  between 
Cedar  Keys  and  the  port  for  which  she  had  been 
named,  in  connection  with  the  railroad.  She 
appeared  to  be  a  good  vessel  of  about  four  hun- 
dred tons,  which  was  as  large  as  the  navigation  of 
the  channel  to  the  port  would  permit.  She  was 
not  fit  for  war  purposes  in  her  present  condition, 
and  Captain  Blowitt  decided  to  send  her  to  New 
York.  Most  of  the  hands  on  board  of  the  three 
prizes  were  negroes,  who  were  too  happy  to  go  to 
the  North. 

"  Sail,  ho  !  "  shouted  the  lookout  on  board  of  the 
Bronx,  while  the  commander  was  still  discussing 
his  plans  with  Christy. 

"  Where  away  ?  "  demanded  the  captain. 

"  Coming  down  from  the  northwest,"  reported  a 
quartermaster. 

Captain  Blowitt  hastened  on  board  of  the  Bronx, 
for  it  did  not  yet  appear  whether  the  vessel  was 
a  friend  or  an  enemy.  She  was  a  steamer,  and 
she  left  a  thin  streak  of  black  smoke  in  the  sky, 
which  indicated  that  her  coal  came  from  British 
territory. 


318  •  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

# 

The  Havana  and  the  schooners  were  left  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Amblen,  after  the  prisoners  had 
been  properly  disposed  of  in  safe  places.  Mr.  Spin- 
net,  the  second  assistant  engineer,  was  sent  on 
board  of  her,  for  the  commander  had  not  full 
confidence  in  Dolly,  though  he  permitted  him  to 
remain  as  assistant.'  The  boats  used  by  the  expe- 
dition were  hoisted  up  to  the  davits,  and  the  first 
and  second  lieutenants  were  ordered  to  return  to 
the  Bronx,  and  only  six  seamen  were  left  on  board 
to  guard  the  prisoners,  of  whom  Lonley  was  the  only 
dangerous  one,  at  all  likely  to  make  trouble. 

The  Bronx  steamed  off  at  her  best  speed  in  the 
direction  of  the  approaching  steamer,  which  ap- 
peared to  be  fast,  and  to  be  of  that  peculiarly 
rakish  class  of  vessels  of  which  there  were  so 
many  engaged  in  the  business  of  blockade  run- 
ning. She  was  examined  by  the  officers  with 
their  glasses  ;  but  they  were  unable  to  make  her 
out.  Her  ensign  was  set  on  a  stern  pole  ;  but 
they  could  not  see  whether  it  was  the  American 
or  the  Confederate  flag. 

"What  do  you  make  of  her,  Mr.  Passford?" 
asked  the  captain,  as  they  watched  her  advance 
over  the  smooth  sea. 


THE   BEARER   OF   DESPATCHES  319 

"  She  is  or  has  been  a  blockade  runner,  and  that 
is  all  I  can  make  out  of  her,"  replied  Christy. 

"  She  may  have  run  the  blockade,  fitted  in 
Mobile  or  some  other  port  as  a  cruiser,  and  come 
out  to  do  what  mischief  she  can.  We  may  have 
to  fight  for  our  prizes,  but  the  splinters  will  fly 
before  she  gets  them  away  from  us,"  said  Captain 
Blowitt,  who  watched  the  steamer  with  an  anxious 
look  on  his  face,  resolute  as  he  was  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duty.  "  She  is  considerably  larger 
than  the  Bronx." 

"  As  I  make  her  out,  she  looks  something  like 
the  Ocklockonee  and  the  Escambia,  which  we 
sent  to  New  York,  though  they  had  but  one 
smokestack  each  while  this  one  has  two.  They 
were  about  five  hundred  tons  ;  and  I  should  think 
this  vessel  was  of  very  nearly  the  same  size," 
added  Christy. 

"  Flies  the  American  flag,  sir,"  reported  a 
quartermaster  who  had  been  sent  into  the  main 
rigging  to  observe  her. 

"  That  may  be  a  trick,"  said  the  captain, 
"  though  I  hardly  think  it  is,  for  she  is  larger  than 
the  Bronx,  and  need  not  resort  to  tricks." 

A  little  later,  she  began  to  hoist  her  signals  on 


320  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

the  foremast  where  they  could  be  plainly  seen. 
Mr.  Flint  made  them  out  to  the  effect  that  the 
steamer  had  orders  for  the  Bronx.  This  settled 
the  question,  and  there  was  no  more  anxiety  in 
regard  to  her,  and  there  was  to  be  no  sea  fight  for 
the  possession  of  the  prizes. 

In  less  than  half  an  hour  the  two  steamers  were 
within  hailing  distance  of  each  other,  and  the 
stranger  sent  off  a  boat  with  an  officer  as  soon  as 
both  vessels  had  stopped  their  screws  and  lost 
their  headway.  As  Christy  watched  the  ap- 
proaching boat,  he  recognized  the  chief  engineer 
of  the  Belle vite  in  the  stern  sheets.  It  was  Paul 
Vapoor,  his  old  friend  and  crony,  who  waved  his 
cap  as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  first  lieutenant. 
The  boat  came  to  the  side,  and  Paul  mounted  the 
accommodation  ladder.  He  was  a  demonstrative 
young  man,  and  he  embraced  Christy  as  though 
he  had  been  a  Frenchman,  as  soon  as  he  reached 
the  deck.  He  touched  his  cap  to  Captain  Blovvitt, 
and  then  delivered  several  huge  envelopes  to  him, 
and  also  a  despatch  bag. 

"  Bearer  of  despatches,  sir,"  said  the  chief 
engineer  of  the  Bellevite. 

"  I  see  you  are,  Mr.  Vapoor.     If  you  will  make 


THE    BEARER    OF    DESPATCHES  321 

yourself  at  home  on  board  of  the  Bronx,  I  will 
read  these  papers  in  my  cabin,"  said  the  captain, 
as  he  went  below. 

"  I  think  Mr.  Passford  and  I  shall  not  waste 
any  time  while  you  are  engaged,  captain,"  replied 
Mr.  Vapoor. 

Certain  personal  and  social  matters  had  to  be 
spoken  of,  and  Paul  had  to  ask  about  Florry 
Passford  first,  and  Christy's  father  and  mother 
afterwards,  though  there  was  no  news  to  tell. 

"  What  are  those  vessels  off  there,  Christy  ?  " 
asked  Paul,  pointing  to  the  Havana  and  the 
schooners. 

"  They  are  our  prizes,"  replied  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  Did  you  have  to  fight  for  them?  " 

"  A  little,  not  much.  What  steamer  is  that  in 
which  you  came,  Paul?" 

"  Our  prize,"  replied  Paul,  with  a  smile  as 
though  he  knew  more  than  he  was  permitted  to 
tell.  "  We  had  an  awful  fight  to  get  her ;  but  we 
got  her  all  the  same.  Poor  Mr.  Dashington  was 
badly  wounded,  and  he  may  not  get  over  it." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that.  Where  was  the 
fight?"  asked  Christy. 


322  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  About  a  hundred  miles  off  the  entrance  to 
Mobile  Bay.  We  were  sent  to  look  out  for  her 
on  account  of  our  speed.  She  came  out,  and 
seemed  to  think  she  was  going  to  have  her  own 
way.  We  overhauled  her,  and  captured  her  by 
boarding." 

"  Captain  Blowitt  wishes  to  see  Lieutenant 
Passford  and  Mr.  Vapoor  in  his  cabin,"  said  Dave, 
coming  up  to  them  at  this  moment ;  and  both  of 
them  hastened  to  obey  the  summons. 

"  Take  seats,  gentlemen,"  said  the  commander, 
as  he  pointed  to  chairs  at  the  table  at  which  he 
was  seated.  "  I  am  ordered  back  to  the  Bellevite 
as  first  lieutenant,  for  poor  Dashington  has  been 
seriously  wounded.  Mr.  Passford  is  ordered  to 
New  York  in  the  Vixen,  winch  brings  these  de- 
spatches, for  she  must  be  condemned.  Mr.  Flint  is 
ordered  to  the  temporary  command  of  the  Bronx, 
though  I  am  unable  to  understand  why  it  is  made 
temporary.  You  are  to  convoy  several  vessels  at 
Key  West  in  the  Vixen,  which  is  fully  armed,  and 
has  a  sufficient  crew." 

Christy  was  never  more  astonished  in  all  his  life. 


THE   NEW   COMMANDER   OF   THE   VIXEN      323 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

THE   NEW    COMMANDER    OF   THE   VIXEN 

"  Have  I  clone  anything  to  offend  the  flag- 
officer,  or  has  he  no  confidence  in  me  ? "  asked 
Christy,  who  heard  in  utter  surprise  that  he  was 
ordered  to  New  York  in  command  of  the  Vixen. 

"  Certainly  not,  Mr.  Passford,"  replied  Captain 
Blowitt,  with  a  deprecatory  smile  which  was 
almost  enough  to  satisfy  the  young  officer. 
"  What  could  have  put  such  an  idea  as  that  into 
your  head  ?  " 

"  It  looked  to  me  just  as  though  I  was  sent 
away  simply  as  a  prize-master  because  my  services 
were  not  needed  down  here  where  there  is  fight- 
ing, and  is  likely  to  be  a  great  deal  more  of  it," 
added  Christy,  not  yet  quite  satisfied.  "  Perhaps 
I  am  banished  for  the  crime  of  audacity." 

"That  is  a  little  too  bad,  Christy,"  said  the 
commander,  shaking  his  head.  "  I  promised  not 
to  use  that  word  again,  and  you  ought  not  to  twit 


324  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

me  for  it,   for  it  was  only  a   pleasantry   on  my 
part." 

"  It  was  the  farthest  thing  in  the  world  from 
my  mind  to  twit  you  for  the  word  ;  I  was  only 
afraid  that  they  considered  me  an  imprudent  offi- 
cer on  board  of  the  flagship.  I  beg  your  pardon, 
Captain  Blowitt,  and  I  will  never  again  remind 
you  of  the  conversation  we  had  on  the  subject  of 
audacity,"  answered  Christy,  rising  from  his  chair 
and  taking  the  commander  by  the  hand. 

"  It  is  all  right,  Christy,  my  dear  fellow,"  re- 
plied the  captain,  coming  down  from  the  dignified 
manner  of  the  navy.  "  I  think  we  understand 
each  other  perfectly,  and  I  don't  wish  to  part  with 
the  shadow  of  a  shadow  between  us.  We  have 
sailed  together  too  long  to  be  anything  but  the 
best  of  friends  ;  and  the  fate  of  poor  Dashington 
reminds  me  that  we  may  never  meet  again  in  this 
world." 

"  Whatever  yon  say  and  whatever  you  do,  Cap- 
tain Blowitt,  we  can  never  be  anything  but  the 
best  of  friends,  and,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  I 
never  had  an  instant  of  donbt  or  suspicion." 

"Now,  Christy,"  interposed  Paul  Vapoor,  "you 
entirely  mistake  the  motive  which  has  led  to  your 


THE   NEW    COMMANDER   OF   THE    VIXEN      325 

appointment  to  the  Vixen,  for  I  happen  to  know 
something  about  it.  You  are  not  sent  simply  as  a 
prize-master  to  New  York,  but  you  are  put  in 
temporary  command  of  the  Vixen  because  an  able, 
vigilant,  courageous  officer  was  required." 

"  Then  I  wonder  all  the  more  that  I  was 
selected,"  added  Christy. 

"You  wonder!"  exclaimed  Paul,  looking  in- 
tently into  the  brown  face  of  the  .young  officer, 
apparently  to  discover  if  there  was  not  some 
affectation  in  this   manifestation   of  modesty. 

There  was  nothing  like  affectation  in  the  com- 
position of  Christy  Passford,  and  whatever  he  had 
done  to  distinguish  himself,  he  had  done  strictly 
in  the  line  of  his  duty,  and  from  the  purest  of 
patriotic  motives.  It  was  the  most  difficult  thing 
in  the  world  to  make  him  believe  that  he  had 
done  "  a  big  thing,"  though  all  others  on  board 
of  his  ship  believed  it  with  all  their  might.  Paul 
Vapoor  knew  what  everybody  thought  of  his 
friend,  and  he  was  surprised  that  he  should  be  so 
innocent  and  ignorant  of  the  great  reputation  he 
had  won. 

"  I  do  wonder,"  replied  Christy,  earnestly  and 
honestly,     "  I  believe   I  am  about  the   youngest 


326  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

officer  in  the  fleet,  and  if  this  service  requires  an 
able  officer,  it  seems  very  strange  to  me  that  I 
should  have  been  selected." 

"  Captain  Breaker  was  consulted  in  regard  to 
you,  though  he  was  not  asked  to  name  a  com- 
mander, for  the  flag-officer  had  thought  of  you 
himself,  and  no  doubt  he  had  just  been  reading 
your  report  of  your  voyage  to  the  Gulf  in  the 
Bronx,"  said  Paul,  laughing.  "  I  don't  see  how 
he  could  do  otherwise  than  select  you,  Christy." 

"  You  are  chaffing  me,  Paul,  as  you  do  some- 
times," said  Christy  with  a  smile. 

"  Then  the  expression  of  my  honest  opinion, 
which  is  also  the  opinion  of  every  other  officer  in 
the  ship,  is  chaffing  you,"  retorted  the  engineer. 

"  I  am  satisfied ;  and  I  am  sorry  I  said  a  word," 
added  the  subject  of  all  these  remarks. 

"  It  is  a  very  important  and  responsible  situation 
to  which  you  are  ordered,  Mr.  Passford,"  said  Cap- 
tain Blowitt,  putting  on  his  dignity  again.  "  Not 
a  few  steamers  fitted  up  in  part  for  service  as 
Confederate  men-of-war,  in  spite  of  neutrality 
treaties,  are  expected  on  the  coast.  You  have 
diminished  the  number  by  two,  and  I  hope  you 
will  be  able  to  make  a  still  further  reduction  of 


THE    NEW   COMMANDER   OF   THE   VIXEN      327 

that  fleet.  We  have  three  vessels  to  send  on  for 
condemnation,  and  3Tour  orders  will  inform  you 
that  there  are  several  others,  including  another 
steamer,  at  Key  West ;  and  a  Confederate  armed 
steamer  could  easily  recapture  the  whole  of  them. 
You  will  have  to  protect  a  fleet  of  at  least  seven 
vessels  ;  and  this  command  ought  to  satisfy  your 
ambition.  You  will  also  have  charge  of  a  despatch 
bag,  to  be  forwarded  to  Washington  at  once ;  and 
this  must  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Sink  or  burn  it  if  you  are  captured." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  be  captured,"  added  Christy 
with  a  smile. 

"  I  remember  that  you  were  taken  by  the  enemy 
on  one  occasion,  and  misfortunes  may  come  to  the 
best  of  officers.  You  must  get  ready  to  sail  at 
once ;  but  you  must  write  your  report  of  your 
expedition  before  you  leave,"  added  Captain 
Blowitt,  as  he  rose  from  his  chair,  and  the  trio 
left  the  cabin. 

Christy  gaped  several  times  during  the  latter 
pai't  of  the  interview,  for  he  had  not  slept  a  wink 
during  the  preceding  night.  He  went  to  the 
ward  room  and  began  to  write  his  report,  while 
the  Bronx  and  the  Vixen  proceeded  towards  the 


328  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

three  vessels  which  had  ■  been  captured.  It  was 
well  that  they  did  so,  for  as  they  approached  the 
Havana  and  her  consorts  they  discovered  quite  a 
fleet  of  boats  coming  out  from  behind  the  Seahorse 
Key,  evidently  intending  to  recapture  the  prizes 
in  the  absence  of  the  gunboat.  They  retired  at 
once  as  she  approached. 

Christy  was  a  rapid  writer,  and  his  report  was 
soon  finished,  for  the  subject  was  still  very  fresh 
in  his  mind,  and  he  never  attempted  to  do  any 
"fine  writing."  He  had  packed  his  valises,  and 
he  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of  the  captain, 
Flint,  and  Sampson,  as  well  as  the  ship's  company 
in  a  more  general  way,  though  he  said  he  expected 
to  be  back  again  in  a  few  weeks.  The  Vixen's 
boat  was  waiting  for  him,  and  he  embarked  in  it 
with  Paul  Vapoor.  In  a  few  minutes  he  ascended 
to  the  deck  of  the  steamer,  and  the  side  was 
manned  at  his  appearance.  He  was  presented  to 
the  officers  of  the  ship  by  the  engineer,  and  all 
three  of  them  were  older  men  than  Christy,  though 
he  was  their  senior  in  rank,  for  his  commission'  had 
been  dated  back  to  his  enlistment  in  the  navy. 

Every  one  of  the  officers  was  a  stranger  to 
Christy,  though  there  were  a-  few  men  who  had 


THE    NEW    COMMANDER    OF    THE    VIXEN      329 

served  in  the  Bellevite,  but  not  in  her  original 
crew.  With  the  customary  proceedings  he  took 
command  of  the  Vixen,  and  he  found  from  sundry 
remarks  made  to  him  or  dropped  in  his  hearing 
that  his  reputation  was  already  established  on 
board.  He  directed  the  executive  officer  to  follow 
the  Bronx.  In  a  short  time  the  screw  was  stopped 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  prizes.  The  Bronx  reclaimed 
the  men  left  on  board  of  the  Havana,  and  Captain 
Lonley  was  sent  on  board  of  the  Vixen. 

Christy  had  been  down  into  his  cabin,  and  taken 
a  hasty  glance  at  the  ward  room.  In  addition  to 
his  own  apartments  like  those  on  board  of  the 
Bronx,  though  they  were  larger,  he  found  a  state 
room  opening  from  the  foot  of  the  companion  way, 
and  another  from  the  passage  way  leading  to  his 
principal  cabin.  These  two  rooms  he  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  Mr.  Pembroke  and  his  daughter, 
though  they  were  very  well  provided  for  on  board 
of  the  Havana.  They  were  invited  on  board,  and 
gratefully  accepted  the  accommodations  tendered 
to  them; 

Mr.  Amblen  was  to  retain  the  place  assigned  to 
him  as  prize-master,  and  two  competent  men 
were  found  to  take  charge  of  the  schooners.     All 


330  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

the  arrangements  were  completed  in  a  couple  of 
hours,  and  the  prizes  of  the  Bronx  were  started  at 
once.  The  negroes  were  employed  in  transferring 
the  deckload  of  the  Havana  to  the  holds  of  the 
schooners,  which  were  not  quite  full. 

The  engineer  of  the  Bellevite  was  to  return  to 
her  in  the  Bronx,  and  he  shook  hands  at  parting 
with  Christy,  giving  him  a  letter  to  Miss  Florry 
Passford  ;  and  even  her  brother  could  not  help 
seeing  that  he  was  greatly  interested  in  her. 
Three  rousing  cheers  went  up  from  the  Bronx  as 
the  screw  of  the  Vixen  began  to  turn,  and  she 
started  on  her  voyage. 

The  new  commander,  though  he  was  very 
sleepy,  gave  his  first  moments  to  an  examination 
of  the  vessel.  The  carpenter  and  his  gang  were 
still  engaged  in  repairing  the  damage  done  to  her 
in  the  engagement  with  the  Bellevite.  She  was 
about  the  size  of  the  two  steamers  captured  by 
the  Bronx,  and  coming  out  of  the  small  steamer, 
she  seemed  quite  large.  She  carried  a  midship 
gun  of  heavy  calibre,  and  four  broadside  pieces. 
She  had  a  crew  of  sixty  men,  besides  those  em- 
ployed in  the  engineer's  department,  selected  from 
the  fleet,  for  the  mission  of  the  steamer  was  re- 
garded as  a  very  important  one. 


THE   NEW    COMMANDER   OF   THE   VIXEN      331 

"  Your  machine  looks  well,  Mr.  Caulbolt,"  said 
Christy,  as  he  went  to  the  engine  room  in  making 
his  round  with  the  executive  officer. 

"  I  fancy  it  is  as  good  as  can  be  built  on  the 
other  side  of  the  water,"  replied  the  chief 
engineer.  « 

"  Do  you  know  anything  in  regard  to  the  speed 
of  the  Vixen,  for  that  may  be  a  very  important 
matter  with  us?"  asked  the  commander. 

"  I  do  not  know  very  much  yet,  sir,  but  I  think 
she  is  a  fast  steamer.  Mr.  Vapoor  told  me  that 
the  Bellevite  made  twenty-two  knots  in  chasing 
her,  and  that  no  other  vessel  in  the  navy  could 
have  overhauled  her.  He  gave  me  the  figures," 
added  Mr.  Caulbolt,  taking  a  paper  from  his 
pocket.  "  I  think  she  is  good  for  eighteen  knots 
when  driven  hard." 

"  I  dare  say  that  will  do,"  replied  Christy,  fin- 
ishing his  examination  and  retiring  to  his  cabin. 

He  found  Mr.  Pembroke  and  his  daughter 
there.  The  young  lady  presented  him  to  her 
father,  who  appeared  to  be  about  fifty  years  of 
age.  He  was  very  gentlemanly  in  his  manners, 
and  thanked  the  captain  heartily  for  the  courtesy 
and   kindness  with  which   he    had   been  treated. 


332  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

Later  in  the  voyage  he  learned  that  Mr.  Pem- 
broke's wife  and  son  had  been  killed  some  years 
before  in  a  railroad  accident,  and  that  the  money 
recovered  from  the  corporation  was  about  his  only 
fortune.  Miss  Bertha,  as  her  father  called  her, 
had  been  educated  to  become  a  teacher,  but  when 
his  health  failed,  she  had  devoted  herself  wholly 
to  him.  They  had  gone  to  Georgia  just  before  the 
war,  and  had  lived  in  the  pine  woods  nearly  two 
years. 

"  My  health  is  very  much  improved,  and  the 
genial  climate  just  suited  my  case ;  but  in  the 
present  situation,  I  had  rather  die  at  home  than 
live  in  the  South,"  said  the  invalid  in  conclusion. 

"  Father  is  ever  so  much  better  than  when  we 
came  to  Georgia,"  added  Bertha. 

Christy  looked  at  her,  and  he  had  never  seen  a 
young  lady  before  who  made  such  a  decided  im- 
pression upon  him.  Of  course  the  reason  for  this 
was  that  she  was  so  dutiful  and  devoted  to  her 
sick  father,  for  not  every  young  and  beautiful 
maiden  would  have  been  so  entirely  unselfish  as 
she  was.  The  commander  could  not  help  looking 
at  her  till  he  made  her  blush  by  the  intensity  of 
his  gaze,  and  after  all,  it  is  possible  that  Christy 


THE   NEW   COMMANDER    OF   THE    VIXEN      383 

was  as  human  as  other  young  men  of  his  age. 
He  had  never  been  so  affected  before,  and  he 
hardly  knew  what  to  make  of  it ;  but  he  con- 
cluded that  it  was  not  because  she  was  so  pretty, 
but  because  she  was  so  good  and  so  devoted  to 
her  father. 

In  due  time  the  Vixen  and  her  convoy  reached 
Key  West.  He  found  only  two  schooners  and  a 
steamer,  all  loaded  with  cotton,  awaiting  his  com- 
ing, for  two  others  had  been  sent  with  another 
steamer.  Christy  went  on  board  of  them,  and  as 
the  sea  was  smooth,  he  arranged  them  as  he  had 
the  others,  though  tow  lines  were  ready  in  case  of 
need,  and  the  fleet  sailed  for  the  North. 


334  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 


CHAPTER   XXX 

THE   ACTION    WITH   A    PRIVATEER    STEAMER 

Christy  had  made  up  his  lost  sleep.  On  the 
first  day  out  he  had  taken  Captain  Lonley's  word 
that  he  would  not  interfere  with  anything  on 
board,  and  had  then  given  him  a  berth  in  the  ward 
room,  where  he  messed  with  the  officers.  Captain 
Rowly  had  also  been  taken  on  board,  and  as  he 
was  a  captain  in  the  Confederate  army,  innocent 
as  he  was,  he  demanded  similar  accommodations. 
His  request  was  granted,  but  Christy  decided  to 
leave  him  at  Key  West,  for  the  ward  room  was 
full. 

The  fleet  continued  on  its  voyage  after  the  call 
at  the  Florida  port,  and  was  soon  in  the  Gulf 
Stream.  It  was  an  exceedingly  quiet  time  in 
the  little  fleet  of  vessels,  though  the  drill  on 
board  of  the  Vixen  was  closely  followed  up.  On 
'the  second  day  they, had  a  mild  gale,  and  the 
schooners  were  cast  off,  and  towed  astern,  one 
behind  the  other. 


ACTION    WITH    A   PRIVATEER   STEAMER     335 

Then  the  weather  was  fine  again,  though  the 
sea  was  still  too  rough  for  the  Havana  and  the 
Aleppo  to  tow  the  prizes  alongside.  Christy 
observed  the  drill  a  great  deal  of  the  time,  and 
Bertha  Pembroke  was  often  his  companion.  He 
told  her  all  about  vessels  in  the  navy,  explained 
actions  at  sea,  but  hoped  she  would  not  be  per- 
mitted to  see  one. 

Then  he  related  to  her  the  experience  of  the 
Bellevite  as  a  yacht  and  as  a  naval  vessel,  and  no 
one  ever  had  a  more  attentive  listener.  He  could 
not  conceal  it  from  himself  that  he  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  young  lady,  and  observers  would 
have  said  that  she  was  not  less  interested  in  him. 
On  the  fifth  day  out  from  Key  West,  while  they 
were  thus  agreeably  occupied,  there  was  a  hail  from 
the  fore  rigging. 

"  Sail,  bo !  "  shouted  the  lookout  on  the  fore 
crosstrees,  where  the  prudence  of  the  commander 
required  a  hand  to  be  stationed  at  all  times,  day 
and  night. 

"  Where  away  ?  "  called  Scopfield,  the  third 
lieutenant,  who  was  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"Broad  on  the  starboard  bow,"  replied  the 
lookout. 


336  ON   THE   BLOCKADE 

"  Can  you  make  it  out?  " 

"  A  steamer,  sir ;  black  smoke  behind  her," 
responded  the   lookout. 

Mr.  Fillbrook  had  joined  the  third  lieutenant  by 
this  time,  and  the  former  reported  to  the  captain. 
Christy  had  heard  all  that  had  passed,  and  he 
immediately  began  to  feel  a  heavy  anxiety  in 
regard  to  the  sail. 

"What  do  you  think  of  her,  Mr.  Fillbrook?" 
he  asked,  after  the  executive  officer  had  reported 
to  him. 

"  There  are  so  many  steamers  coming  over  from 
British  ports  about  this  time,  bound  to  Confed- 
erate ports,  that  it  is  not  very  difficult  to  guess 
what  she  is,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant.  "  She 
is  either  a  blockade  runner,  or  a  steamer  fitted  out 
to  prey  upon  the  commerce  of  the  United  States." 

"  That  seems  to  be  plain  enough ,  and  from  the 
position  in  which  we  find  her,  she  has  come  out  of 
the  Bermudas,  or  is  bound  there,"  added  the  com- 
mander. "  Bring  my  glass  from  my  state  room," 
he  continued  to  his  cabin  steward,  who  was  sun- 
ning himself  on  the  deck. 

When  it  was  brought,  the  captain  and  the  exec- 
utive ofnco*  went  forward  and  mounted  the  top- 


ACTION    WITH    A    PRIVATEER    STEAMER       337 

gallant  forecastle.  Mr.  Fillbrook  procured  a  glass 
from  the  pilot  house,  and  both  of  them  looked 
long  and  earnestly  at  the  speck  in  the- distance. 
The  steamer  was  hull  down,  and  they  soon  agreed 
that  she  was  bound  to  the  eastward. 

"  We  have  no  business  with  her  at  present," 
said  Christy,  as  he  shut  up  his  glass. 

"But  I  have  no  doubt  she  has  already  run  the 
blockade,  and  came  out  of  Wilmington  or  Savan- 
nah. If  that  is  the  case,  she  must  be  loaded  with 
cotton,  which  contains  a  fortune  at  the  present 
time  within  a  small  compass,"  replied  Mr.  Fill- 
brook,  who  had  not  been  as  fortunate  as  some 
others  in  the  matter  of  prizes. 

"  Very  likely,"  replied  Christy,  rather  coldly, 
his  companion  thought.  "  I  do  not  think  I  should 
be  justified  in  giving  chase  to  her,  which  could 
only  be  done  bj7  abandoning  the  convoy." 

"  Could  we  not  pick  up  the  convoy  after  we 
had  captured  the  steamer  ?  "  asked  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  Yes,  if  some  Confederate  cruiser  does  not  pick 
it  up  in  our  absence,"  replied  Christy,  with  a 
significant  smile. 

Mr.  Fillbrook  was  evidently  very  much  disap- 


338  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

pointed,  not  to  say  disgusted,  with  the  decision  of 
Captain  Passford  ;  but  he  was  too  good  an  officer 
to  make  a  complaint,  or  utter  a  comment.  The 
ship's  company  had  become  somewhat  excited 
when  it  was  announced  that  a  sail,  with  black 
smoke  painting  a  long  streak  on  the  blue  sky,  was 
made  out.  If  it  was  a  blockade  runner,  with  a 
cargo  of  cotton,  it  meant  a  small  fortune  to  each 
officer,  seaman,  and  others  on  board. 

The  new  commander  had  a  reputation  as  a  dar- 
ing leader,  and  the  hopes  of  the  officers  and  men 
ran  high.  They  waited  eagerly  to  have  the  steamer 
headed  to  the  eastward  ;  but  no  such  order  was 
given,  and  the  chins  of  all  hands  began  to  drop 
down. 

Christy  had  no  interest  in  the  money  value  of  a 
prize,  and  yet  he  could  understand  the  feeling 
of  his  ship's  company.  He  was  an  heir  of  a  mill- 
ionaire, and  he  had  no  occasion  to  trouble  his 
head  about  the  profits  of  a  capture.  He  looked  at 
the  question  from  a  purely  patriotic  point  of  view, 
and  every  prize  secured  was  so  much  taken  from 
the  resources  of  the  enemy. 

He  saw  the  disappointment  painted  on  the  face 
of  the  first  lieutenant,  and  he  went  to  his  cabin  to 


ACTION    WITH   A   PRIVATEER   STEAMER      3o9 

consider  his  duty  again,  and  review  the  reasoning 
that  had  influenced  him ;  but  he  came  to  the  con- 
clusion he  had  reached  in  the  beQ-innino-.  He  was 
in  charge  of  six  vessels  loaded  with  cotton,  and 
the  ship's  company  of  the  Bronx  and  other  vessels 
had  an  interest  in  their  cargoes.  The  Vixen  was 
less  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  coast, 
and  a  tug  boat,  with  a  bow  gun  and  a  crew  of 
twenty-five,  could  come  out  and  capture  the  whole 
fleet  without  the  least  difficulty.  The  risk  was 
too  great,  and  the  commander  was  as  firm  as  a 
rock. 

The  next  morning,  before  it  was  daylight,  Mr. 
Bangs  the  second  lieutenant,  who  had  the  mid 
watch,  sent  a  messenger  to  the  commander  to  in- 
form him  that  a  sail  was  made  out,  which  ap- 
peared to  be  a  steamer,  on  the  starboard  bow,  very 
broad,  nearly  on  the  beam.  Christy  dressed  him- 
self in  a  great  hurry,  and  hastened  on  deck.  It 
was  beginning  to  be  a  little  light,  and  the  steamer 
appeared  to  be  about  five  miles  to  the  eastward  of 
the  Vixen,  and  was  headed  towards  her. 

Christy  at  once  concluded  that  the  vessel  meant 
mischief,  and  he  promptly  gave  the  order  to  beat 
to  quarters.     He  thought  it  must  be  the  steamer 


310  ON    THE   BLOCKADE 

seen  the  day  before,  as  she  could  hardly  be  a 
blockade  runner  for  the  reason  that  she  was 
headed  towards  the  fleet.  If  she  desired  to  break 
through  the  blockading  squadron,  she  would  be 
likely  to  keep  as  far  as  possible  from  anything 
that  might  be  an  armed  vessel. 

Christy  went  to  his  state  room  to  write  an  order 
for  Mr.  Amblen  in  the  Havana,  which  was  hardly 
a  cable's  length  from  the  Vixen  on  the  port  side, 
the  Aleppo  being  ahead  of  her.  He  had  already 
given  his  general  orders  to  the  prize  masters,  but 
this  was  a  special  one.  In  the  cabin  he  found 
Bertha,  who  had  been  awakened  by  the  tramping 
of  the  men  on  deck. 

"  Pray  what  is  the  matter,  Captain  Passford  ?  " 
she  asked,  evidently  somewhat  alarmed. 

"  Nothing  is  the  matter  yet,  Miss  Pembroke, 
but  something  may  be  the  matter  within  an  hour 
or  two,  for  there  is  a  sail  making  for  us,"  replied 
Christy  with  the  smile  he  always  wore  when  she 
spoke  to  him,  or  he  to  her.  "  In  other  words 
there  may  be  an  action,  for  I  must  defend  my 
convoy." 

"Is  there  any  danger?  "  she  inquired. 

"  Of  course  there  is,  for  a  shot  may  come  through 


ACTION    WITH    A    PRIVATEER   STEAMER      341 

the  side  of  the  ship  anywhere  and  at  any  time. 
But  I  have  thought  of  this  matter,  and  I  propose  to 
put  you  and  your  father  on  board  of  the  Havana 
until  after  the  danger  is  passed.  Be  kind  enough 
to  get  ready  as  soon  as  possible." 

Christy  wrote  his  order,  and  hastened  on  deck 
with  it.  Hailing  the  Havana,  he  ordered  the 
prize-master  to  send  a  boat  on  board.  When  it 
came  the  two  passengers  Avere  embarked  in  it 
and  the  order  sent.  The  commander  did  not 
wait  a  moment  to  watch  the  receding  form  of  the 
maiden,  but  immediately  directed  his  attention  to 
the  steamer  apj>roaching  the  Vixen. 

"  Run  for  that  steamer,  Mr.  Fillbrook,"  said  he, 
after  his  first  glance. 

"Make  the  course  east  by  north,  Mr.  Bangs," 
added  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  East  by  north,"  repeated  the  quartermaster  at 
the  wheel  when  the  order  reached  him. 

"  I  have  just  been  aloft,  and  she  flies  the  Con- 
federate flag,  Captain  Passford,"  said  Mr.  Fillbrook. 
"  She  is  a  large  steamer,  and  she  is  by  no  means  as 
jaunty  as  the  Vixen." 

Both  steamers  were  going  at  full  speed,  and  it 
required   but  a  short   time    to   bring   them   near 


342  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

enough  together  for  something  to  happen.  She  was 
well  down  in  the  water,  and  appeared  as  though 
she  might  be  loaded  with  something  besides  the 
appliances  of  a  man-of-war.  She  looked  as  though 
she  might  be  twice  as  large  as  the  Vixen,  and  it 
was  soon  evident  that  her  speed  was  nothing  to 
boast  of.  She  certainly  was  not  one  of  the  high- 
flyer yachts  which  had  been  bought  up  for  service 
in  the  Confederate  navy. 

When  the  two  vessels  were  not  more  than  a  mile 
apart,  a  column  of  smoke  rose  from  her  waist,  as  « 
she  swung  around  so  that  her  great  gun  could  be 
brought  to  bear,  and  a  shot  dropped  into  the  water 
at  least  an  eighth  of  a  mile  short  of  the  Vixen. 

"  Thank  you,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  Christy.  "  Half 
speed,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Fillbrook." 

The  commander  went  to  the  long  English  gun 
in  the  waist,  to  which  he  had  already  given  a  great 
deal  of  study,  and  sighted  along  the  heavy  piece. 
He  had  not  forgotten  when  he  pointed  the  gun  on 
board  of  the  Bellevite,  the  shot  from  which  had 
disabled  the  Vampire,  and  he  had  some  confidence 
in  his  ability  to  put  a  shot  where  he  wished  it  to 
go,  for  lie  had  brought  all  his  mathematics  and  all 
his  physics  to  bear  on  the  matter,  though  the  best 


ACTION   WITH   A   PRIVATEER   STEAMER      343 

gunners  must  sometimes  fail.  When  he  was  ready 
he  gave  the  word  to  fire.  The  ship  was  shaken 
by  the  heavy  report,  and  every  one  waited  with 
peculiar  interest  for  the  smoke  to  clear  away, 
because  the  captain  had  pointed  the  gun. 

Christy  had  ordered  the  screw  to  be  stopped, 
and  had  waited  till  the  steamer  lost  her  headway. 
She  rolled  but  slightly,  and  he  had  allowed  for 
everything.  Glasses  were  in  demand,  and  a 
moment  later  there  was  a  shout  went  up  from 
the  men  at  the  gun,  followed  by  another  from  the 
rest  of  the  crew.  The  shot  had  upset  the  great 
gun  on  the  deck  of  the  enemy.  She  was  swinging 
round,  and  beginning  to  fire  her  broadside  guns,  but 
the  shots  came  nowhere  near  the  Vixen.  Christy 
did  not  believe  there  was  any  naval  officer  on 
board  of  that  steamer. 

"  Keep  up  the  fire  wifii  the  long  gun,  Mr.  Fill- 
brook,"  said  the  commander,  in  a  low  tone,  and 
with  no  excitement  apparent  in  his  manner,  for 
he  always  studietl  and  labored  to  appear  cool  and 
self-possessed,  whether  he  was  so  or  not,  and 
there  was  nothing  in  the  present  situation  to  try 
him  in  the  least. 

For  a  full  hour  the  long  gun  of  the  Vixen  con- 


344  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

tiimed  to  pelt  the  enemy  with  solid  shot,  about 
every  one  of  them  hulling  her  or  carrying  away 
some  of  her  spars.  Her  mainmast  had  gone  by 
the  board,  and  the  resistance  she  was  making  was 
becoming  very  feeble. 

"  She  is  full  of  men,  Captain  Passford,"  said  Mr. 
Fillbrook,  when  the  steamer  seemed  to  be  almost  a 
wreck. 

"  I  observed  that  she  had  a  large  crew  some 
time  ago,  and  it  is  better  to  knock  her  to  pieces 
than  to  board  her,"  replied  Christy.  "  Keep  her 
as  far  off  as  she  is  now." 

The  enemy  tried  to  get  nearer  to  the  Vixen,  but 
failed  to  do  so. 


A    SHORT    VISIT   TO    BONNYDALE  345 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

A   SHORT    VISIT   TO    BONNYDALE 

The  firing  was  continued  from  the  long  gun, 
though  only  at  intervals  that  would  permit  any 
signals  to  be  seen  on  board  of  the  enemy.  When 
it  looked  as  though  there  would  soon  be  nothing 
left  of  her,  she  hauled  down  the  Confederate  flasr 
at  her  fore,  where  she  had  hoisted  it  when  the 
mainmast  went  over.  The  order  to  go  ahead  was 
given,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Vixen  was  along- 
side of  her. 

"  Do  you  surrender?"  asked  Christy,  mounting 
the  rail  of  his  ship. 

"  We  do ;  there  is  not  much  left  of  the  steamer, 
and  I  am  not  justified  in  throwing  away  the  lives 
of  my  men,"  replied  a  very  spruce-looking  officer. 

"You  will  board  her,  Mr.  Fillbrook,  with  the 
first  division,  and  take  possession  of  her,"  said 
Christy,  when  he  had  received  the  captain's  answer. 
"  Ascertain  her  condition  as  soon  as  possible." 


346  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

The  steamer  proved  to  be  the  Pedee,  formerly 
the  Cam  field,  Captain  Linden.  She  had  run  the 
blockade  with  a  valuable  cargo,  which  more  than 
paid  the  cost  of  the  vessel,  and  was  then  loaded 
with  cotton,  and  armed  for  her  own  protection,  as 
well  as  to  capture  anything  that  fell  in  her  way. 
She  had  a  crew  of  eighty  men  to  do  her  fighting, 
and  the  commander  confidently  expected  to  pick 
up  a  better  steamer  than  the  Pedee,  to  which  the 
greater  portion  of  the  ship's  company  were  to  be 
transferred. 

"  I  saw  your  steamer  yesterdaj'  afternoon,"  said 
the  captain ;  "  but  she  had  several  other  vessels 
near  her,  and  I  thought  she  might  have  a  whole 
blockading  squadron  with  her.  I  kept  off,  and 
put  about  in  the  night.  When  I  saw  the  Vixen 
early  this  morning,  I  thought  she  would  just  an- 
swer my  purpose,  and  I  wanted  her.  A  nearer 
view  of  her  assures  me  she  is  exactly  the  steamer 
I  needed." 

"  For  your  sake,  captain,  I  am  sorry  I  can- 
not accommodate  you,"  replied  Christy,  laughing 
at  the  cheerful  expressions  of  Captain  Linden. 
"  I  presume  you  are  an  officer  of  the  Confederate 
Navy  ?  " 


A   SHORT    VISIT   TO    BONN  YD  ALE  347 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  not ;  but  I  am  a  Confederate  to 
the  backbone.  It  was  my  intention  to  set  up  a 
navy  on  my  own  hook.  The  Pedee  was  the  first 
vessel,  and  I  intended  that  the  Vixen  should  be 
the  second,  and  become  my  flag-ship." 

"  Then  you  came  out  as  a  privateer  ?  " 

"That's  just  the  color  of  it.  If  you  hadn't 
unhorsed  my  big  gun  I  should  have  been  as  polite 
to  you  about  this  time  as  you  are  to  me.  The 
fact  of  it  is,  Captain  Passford,  you  did  not  man- 
age your  ship  just  right." 

"  Indeed  ?     In  what  respect  ?  "  asked  Christy. 

"  Well,  you  see,  you  knocked  my  big  gun  all 
to  pieces,  and  then,  instead  of  running  down  and 
boarding  the  Pedee,  you  stood  off  out  of  range  of 
my  side  guns,  and  knocked  the  starch  all  out  of 
us.  If  you  had  only  boarded  us,  I  could  have 
whipped  you  out  of  your  boots,  for  I  have  got  the 
greatest  crowd  of  ;  fighting  dogs  that  was  ever 
hitched  up  together." 

"  Of  course  I  was  not  aware  of  your  views  in 
regard  to  the  manner  in  which  I  ought  to  have 
managed  the  affair  on  my  own  part,  and"  therefore 
I  could  not  handle  my  ship  just  as  you  desired," 
replied  Christy.  "  As  it  is,  I  am  afraid  you  will 
have  to  start  your  navy  over  again." 


348  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

Mr.  Fillbrook  had  by  this  time  driven  the 
"  lighting  dogs "  forward,  and  taken  full  posses- 
sion of  the  prize.  On  examination,  Christy  found 
that,  though  the  Pedee  had  been  terribly  battered 
in  her  upper  works,  she  was  not  materially 
injured  below  the  water  line.  He  sent  for  Mr. 
Caulbolt,  and  required  him  to  inspect  the  engine, 
which  was  not  injured  in  any  important  part. 

Captain  Linden  had  three  times  attempted  to 
get  nearer  to  the  Vixen  with  the  intention  of 
boarding  her ,  but  Christy  preferred  to  fight  the 
battle  at  long  range  under  the  circumstances,  and 
he  had  preserved  his  distance  from  the  enemy. 
He  had  discovered  that  she  had  a  large  crew,  and 
he  was  vastly  more  prudent  than  most  of  his 
critics  gave  him  the  credit  of  being.  He  was  sur- 
prised, after  examining  the  Pedee,  that  the  cap- 
tain had  hauled  down  his  flag,  for  the  steamer 
could  have  stood  a  good  deal  more  pounding  with- 
out being  used  up.  He  concluded  that  Captain 
Linden  was  full  of  fight,  but,  for  the  want  of  a 
naval  education,  he  had  not  fully  comprehended 
his  situation. 

It  was  deemed  advisable  to  transfer  one  half  of 
the  Pedee's  crew  of  "fighting  dogs"  to  the  Vixen, 


A    SHORT    VISIT   TO   BONNYDALE  ol9 

as  she  was  not  encumbered  with  any  prisoners  to 
speak  of,  and  this  was  effected  without  any  delay. 
Mr.  Scopfield,  the  third  lieutenant,  was  appointed 
prize-master,  and  instructed  to  keep  as  near  as 
practicable  to  the  Vixen  on  the  voj'age.  Captain 
Linden  and  his  principal  officers  were  allowed  to 
remain  on  board.  An  assistant  engineer  and  two 
first-class  firemen,  on  their  way  to  New  York  for 
examination  and  promotion,  were  sent  on  board  of 
the  prize.  The  two  steamers  were  soon  under 
way,  and  then  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Pedee's 
ordinary  rate  of  sailing  did  not  exceed  ten  knots, 
and  it  was  not  probable  that  she  would  be  bought 
into  the  navy. 

The  fleet  of  prize  vessels  had  continued  on  its 
course  to  the  north,  and  was  soon  overhauled  by 
the  Vixen  and  her  capture.  The  progress  of  the 
fleet  was  very  slow,  for  the  Aleppo,  which  was 
said  to  have  a  speed  of  ten  knots,  did  very  badly 
towing  two  steamers.  Mr.  Pembroke  and  Bertha 
were  sent  on  board  of  the  Vixen,  and  the  young 
lady  blushed  beautifully  when  Christy  welcomed 
her  return. 

Possibly  she  had  feared  he  might  be  killed  in 
the  action,  and  had  worried  about  him  till  his  re- 


350  ON    THE    BLOCKADE 

turn  in  safety,  with  the  prize  alongside  his  ship. 
Her  father  was  very  cordial  in  his  congratulations 
to  the  young  commander,  and  even  said  that  he 
and  his  daughter  had  prayed  that  he  might  not  be 
killed  or  injured  in  the  conflict ;  and  Bertha 
blushed  all  the  more  when  he  said  it. 

Mr.  Scopfield  was  instructed  to  take  one  of  the 
schooners  of  the  Aleppo  in  tow.  Five  men  had 
been  killed  on  board  of  the  Pedee,  and  her  sur- 
geon had  more  than  he  could  do  with  at  least 
twenty  wounded  men.  Dr.  Appleton  was  sent  on 
board  of  her  to  assist  him.  The  fleet  thus  reor- 
ganized got  under  way,  and  it  was  found  that  the 
log  gave  better  results  after  the  change.  Fortu- 
nately no  enemy  interfered  with  its  progress,  for 
Christy  felt  that  his  hands  were  already  full. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  month  of  May,  he 
sailed  into  New  York  harbor  with  his  fleet  of 
eight  vessels,  though  only  three  of  them  were  the 
prizes  of  the  Bronx.  He  had  been  absent  hardly 
a  month  ;  though  he  had  something  to  show  for 
the  time  lie  had  been  employed.  The  vessels 
were  delivered  over  to  the  authorities,  and  the 
young  commander  obtained  leave  of  absence  to 
visit  his  mother  and-  sister  at  Bonnydale,  for  his 


A    SHOUT    VISIT    TO    BONNYDALE  351 

father  came  on  board  of  the  Vixen  as  soon  as  he 
heard  the  news  of  her  arrival  in  command  of  his 
son. 

Captain  Passford,  Senior,  was  conducted  to  the 
cabin  of  Captain  Passford,  Junior,  and  the  meet- 
ing of  father  and  son  was  very  affectionate  and 
very  demonstrative.  Mr.  Pembroke  and  his 
daughter  were  presented  to  the  commander's 
father,  and  after  they  had  talked  over  the  inci- 
dents of  the  return  voyage,  the  former  owner  of 
the  Bellevite  suspected  that  relations  were  alto- 
gether pleasant  between  Christy  and  Bertha. 

He  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  young  ladjT, 
and  whatever  else  he  thought,  he  could  not  very 
well  help  indorsing  his  son's  good  taste.  In  the 
course  of  the  subsequent  conversation  it  appeared 
that  Mr.  Pembroke  owned  a  small  house  at  New- 
bnrgh,  but  that  the  occupant  of  it  had  a  three- 
years'  lease  of  the  premises.  Captain  Passford  im- 
mediately extended  an  invitation  to  the  invalid 
and  his  daughter  to  visit  Bonnydale,  which  became 
so  pressing  that  it  was  finally,  accepted.  In  the 
afternoon  the  entire  party  took  the  train  for  the 
home  of  the  captain. 

Christy's  welcome  was  as  hearty  as  though  he 


352  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

had  come  home  a  commodore.  The  visitors  were 
received  with  a  sincere  greeting,  and  Bertha  and 
Floury  were  soon  fast  friends.  Even  if  Christy's 
father  had  not  dropped  a  hint  to  Mrs.  Passford  in 
regard  to  the  fact  that  his  son  was  at  least  ten- 
derly inclined  towards  the  lovely  maiden  from 
the  South  she  could  not  have  failed  to  notice  his 
attentions  to  her.  Later  at  night  his  father  and 
mother  had  a  long  talk  over  the  matter. 

"  Christy,  I  have  a  couple  of  envelopes  for  you," 
said  Captain  Passford,  as  the  party  seated  them- 
selves in  the  drawing-room  after  supper. 

"  Envelopes,  father  ?  "  asked  the  young  officer 
curiously.     "  Base  ball  or  boat-club  business  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  neither ;  decidedly  not,"  replied 
his  father,  taking  the  documents  from  his  pocket, 
and  handing  them  to  him.  "  They  have  an  official 
look,  and  bear  the  imprint  of  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment." 

"  What  business  can  the  Navy  Department  have 
with  me  now  ?  I  have  the  honor  to  be  the  execu- 
tive officer  of  the  gunboat  Bronx,  with  the  rank 
of  master,  on  detached  duty  as  prize-master," 
added  Christy,  as  he  looked  at  the  ponderous 
envelopes. 


A   SHORT   VISIT   TO   BONNYDALE  353 

"  You  can  easily  answer  that  question  by  read- 
ing the  papers,"  replied  his  father. 

"  A  commission ! "  exclaimed  Christj^,  as  he 
opened  the  first  one.  "I  am  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant !  " 

"  And,  though  you  are  my  son,  I  must  say  that 
you  deserve  the  promotion,"  added  Captain  Pass- 
ford.  "  I  have  read  your  report  of  the  capture  of 
the  Ocklockonee  and  the  Escambia,  and  you  have 
won  your  spurs,  my  son.  I  did  not  ask  for  this 
promotion,  or  even  suggest  it  to  any  one." 

"  Well,  I  am  astonished,  confounded,  over- 
whelmed !  "  exclaimed  the  young  lieutenant,  as 
we  are  now  permitted  to  call  him.  "And  the 
commission  is  dated  back  far  enough  to  put  me 
over  the  heads  of  not  a  few  others  of  the  same 
rank." 

"  Perhaps  it  will  please  you  quite  as  much  when 
I  inform  you  that  the  officers  you  recommended 
for  appointment  as  masters  have  been  promoted 
to  that  rank,"  added  the  captain. 

"  I  am  even  more  pleased  at  their  promotion  than 
at  my  own,"  replied  Christy,  opening  the  other 
envelope,  in  which  he  was  addressed  as  "  Lieu- 
tenant   Christopher   Passford."      "Ah,   ha!"    he 


354  ON   THE    BLOCKADE 

exclaimed,  leaping  out  of  his  chair  in  his  excite- 
ment, to  which  he  gave  way  on  such  an  occasion 
as  the  present. 

"  What  in  the  world  is  the  matter  with  you, 
Christy  ? "  demanded  Iris  mother,  astonished  at 
such  an  unusual  demonstration  on  the  part  of 
her  son. 

"  I  am  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Bronx, 
in  place  of  Lieutenant  Blowitt,  transferred  to  the 
Belle vite !  "  almost  shouted. the  young  officer.  "  If 
I  could  have  selected  a  position  for  myself,  this  is 
the  very  one  I  should  have  chosen." 

"  I  heard  you  say  as  much  as  that  when  you 
were  appointed  to  the  temporary  command  of  the 
Bronx,  and  I  shall  plead  guilty  of  having  inserted 
a  hint  where  it  would  do  the  most  good,"  added 
Captain  Passford. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  father,  for  I  don't 
object  to  that  kind  of  influence,  though  I  could 
have  commanded  the  Bronx  just  as  well  as  a 
master,  which  is  the  rank  of  her  present  temporary 
commander,  Mr.  Flint.  I  desire  to  win  my  own 
rank,  and  not  get  it  by  influence.  I  am  ordered 
to  proceed  to  the  Gulf  as  soon  as  possible." 

In  three  days  he  obtained  passage  in  a  store-ship 


A   SHORT   VISIT   TO   BONNYDALE  355 

steamer ;  and  he  spent  all  this  time  at  home,  as 
perhaps  he  would  not  have  done  if  Bertha  Pem- 
broke had  not  been  there.  Before  he  reported  on 
board  of  the  store-ship,  he  visited  the  Vixen,  which 
was  undergoing  alterations  and  repairs,  and  took 
leave  of  his  officers.  Before  dark  he  was  on  board 
of  the  vessel  and  on  his  voyage  to  the  scene  of 
his  future  operations,  where  we  hope  to  find  him 
again,  doing  his  best  for  his  whole  country,  and 
true  to  his  motto  from  the  beginning,  "Stand 
by  the  Union." 


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NORTH  CAROLINA 

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